LOCAL ELECTIONS LAWNDALE CITY COUNCIL : Red Cross Buffeted in a Firestorm of Politics

The American Red Cross helps victims of earthquakes, floods and fires, but the group has found itself in the middle of a political firestorm after allowing a Lawndale City Council candidate to put his name on an earthquake survival flyer.

The handbill has the Red Cross’ popular public service announcement, “27 things to help you survive an earthquake,” on the back of a political statement by candidate Ron Maxwell.

Noting that he printed a disclaimer on the announcement stating that the Red Cross does not support political candidates, Maxwell, 27, says he is bewildered by the attention the flyer has received.

“I wanted to do it as a public service . . . for the benefit of the community,” Maxwell said. “I was surprised, if not a little shocked, that my opponents would be against my informing people how to better prepare themselves for an earthquake.”

Red Cross spokeswoman Peggy McGinley said Maxwell received permission to hand out copies of the earthquake announcement under the words “Distributed as a public service by Ron Maxwell, for City Council.” But she said Red Cross officials did not know he was planning to put the message on the back of a campaign flyer until they received calls about the matter from angry council candidates and city officials.

They also did not know the group’s symbol would appear on the flyer in black rather than red, in violation of the copyright, she said.

Maxwell, who spent $400 to print 15,000 copies of the flyer, has agreed to Red Cross officials’ request that he stop distributing it and has retrieved several bundles of flyers from campaign volunteers who were helping him pass them out.

“We’ve had nothing but cooperation from Ron Maxwell,” McGinley said. “It simply seems to be a misunderstanding or miscommunication.”

The controversy nevertheless comes at a sensitive time for Maxwell, who is considered an underdog in the November election.

Maxwell is one of four candidates vying for a council seat that was left open when former Councilman Harold Hoffman was elected mayor in April. Also running for the seat are Bob Cerny, Norm Lagerquist and Gary McDonald.

In an attempt to control damage, Maxwell has spent extra time walking precincts to explain his case to the voters, a tactic he said has brought good results.

Councilwoman Carol Norman, who has endorsed Lagerquist in the race and is among those who complained about the flyer, said the current controversy echoes an incident last year in which Maxwell sent out a mailer urging people to vote and using his title as a parks and recreation commissioner. Although Maxwell maintained that he did nothing wrong in sending out that mailer, the City Council nevertheless voted 3 to 2 to remove him from the commission.