Congressional Elections Not Expected to Change the Status Quo : 28TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

Democratic Rep. Julian C. Dixon of Los Angeles is in a rematch with Republican businessman George Z. Adams, whom he defeated two years ago.

A low-key but generally respected member of the House, Dixon was briefly in the spotlight in 1989 when, as chairman of the House Ethics Committee, he presided over the inquiry involving House Speaker Jim Wright, who subsequently resigned from the House.

Later in 1989, Dixon and his wife, Betty, made some headlines again when it was reported that Betty Dixon was part of small group of politically connected people who profited from a Los Angeles Airport Department program to help minorities and women develop business skills.

Dixon later said he was never lobbied by the firm with which his wife had a business deal, and he disputed statements by the company’s law firm that it had contacted him on company business several times.

A key congressional advocate for Metro Rail funding, Dixon also has played a role in national and international politics of interest to his district. He was one of the first congressmen to lobby for economic sanctions against South Africa, and more recently became a member of a defense appropriations subcommittee, through which he hopes to play a substantive role in defense policy.

Adams, like many other challengers, says he is running because he thinks the incumbent has been in office too long and has lost touch with his constituency.

Adams says he wants to deal with the budget deficit by cutting government spending, without raising taxes. The challenger also supports the current policies allowing a woman’s right to abortion and favors more funding of public education to combat illiteracy, according to campaign spokesman Ron Evans.

Libertarian Bob Weber and Peace and Freedom candidate William R. Williams also are on the ballot.

28TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT The district: Culver City, Westchester, Lennox, Baldwin Hills, South-Central Los Angeles.

Candidate Party Julian C. Dixon (inc.) Democrat George Z. Adams Republican Bob Weber Libertarian William R. Williams Peace and Freedom

Voter Registration Registered Percent Democrats 151,618 72.5% Republicans 38,621 18.5 Independents 14,838 7.1 Minor Parties* 4,066 1.9 Total 209,143

* American Independent, Peace and Freedom, Libertarian and miscellaneous

Voting History: Rock-solid Democratic turf. Adams got just 20% of the vote against Dixon in 1988, and Dukakis beat Bush 3 to 1. Even Mondale ran up two-thirds of the vote here in 1984.