Showdown

A special election Jan. 22 will determine the new 1st District representative of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. The district was designed after a historic lawsuit found that the county had discriminated against Latinos in previously setting the district boundaries.

Nine candidates are on the ballot but four candidates, all Latinos, are given the strongest chance of winning the election. They are State Sens. Charles M. Calderon and Art Torres, Los Angeles Councilwoman Gloria Molina and former supervisorial deputy Sarah Flores. The four responded to a Nuestro Tiempo questionnaire. Other issues discusses in the candidates’ Q and A are on Page 4.

Why should you be elected supervisor?

Charles M. Calderon: As a prosecutor, I compiled a tough record on crime. Being a legislator provided valuable experience in dealing with the many concerns facing us. I want to bring my experience to the local level to help make people’s lives better.

Sarah Flores: I am not a politician. I decided to run because of my deep desire to serve people. I have served county government for 33 years, starting as a secretary and working my way up to the position of a top deputy. I understand the needs and concerns of every community in the 1st District.

Gloria Molina: As the only candidate experienced in local government, I have a record of making the bureaucracy respond to the people. Legislatively, my effectiveness as a councilwoman speaks for itself--excluding pending decisions, 95% of the items I’ve introduced won passage.

Art Torres: This election is a historic opportunity for our community. We need a tough, experienced leader who will fight to solve our problems: crime and gangs, inadequate health care, polluted air and water. As a supervisor, I will work to improve the quality of life for all of us.

A Survey of 1st District Candidates

Nuestro Tiempo sent questionnaires to four Board of Supervisors candidates considered the strongest contenders for the 1st District seat. Their responses:

More Supervisors

Q. Do you support expanding the five-member Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors to seven or nine members?

Charles M. Calderon: I’d consider expanding the board’s size to seven to increase the level of direct representation.

Sarah Flores: I support seven members. I believe seven supervisors would create a more representative government.

Gloria Molina: Yes. Initially, I support expansion to seven members. As population increases, I would favor nine.

Art Torres: I support seven members initially. Additional representation would improve services and increase participation for the county’s population.

Budget and Health

Q. What L.A. County programs would you cut or what new revenue sources would you tap to increase funding for strapped health and mental health programs?

Calderon: I will institute a meticulous examination of how the county delivers services and make funding changes if necessary. Each county department should be required to justify its budget. Health and safety programs must be maintained at all costs!

Flores: We should not cut vital services like health, mental health care or law enforcement. We must convince the state and federal governments that they must pay for the programs they require counties to operate. That will solve the major funding problems.

Molina: I favor re-prioritizing expenditures. Health, public safety and basic services come first. Inflated management salaries, high office budgets, trips, “conveniences” come last. A business license fee could generate $70 million. Deferral of some capital improvements.

Torres: We need to start by cutting waste and duplication. I would eliminate “contracting out” practices that cost taxpayers more money in the long run. And I would audit county agencies, like the real estate department, where millions are being wasted.

AIDS Policies

Q. Do you support the distribution of bleach kits and condoms to help reduce the spread of the AIDS virus? What else would you do in regard to AIDS?

Calderon: Yes. We must eradicate the AIDS epidemic. Education is the most effective weapon against AIDS, and we must continue to fully fund research and testing. We must ensure, however, that our efforts do not condone drug abuse or sexual promiscuity.

Flores: My criteria for supporting condoms or bleach is based on what effectively stops the spread of AIDS and encourage people to stop using drugs. There have been mixed results with bleach and condom programs. We must shift away from fighting those who are victims of AIDS, expedite treatment for those HIV positive and finance home care where feasible.

Molina: Yes. I support any effort that helps reduce the spread of AIDS. A comprehensive health-care response for every HIV positive and AIDS patient on waiting lists is long overdue. AIDS is everyone’s problem. If we don’t forge policy now, we will suffer greater impacts later. We need greater education, information and minority outreach.

Torres: Yes, I support the distribution of bleach kits and condoms--as long as they are accompanied by straightforward information about preventing the spread of AIDS. We aren’t condoning drug use or free sex; rather, we’re giving people the tools to save lives. AIDS education is the key to prevention. We need to launch a massive outreach, particularly among women and minorities.

County Jobs

Q. Studies have shown that Latinos are not employed in Los Angeles County departments in numbers near their percentage in the population. What would you do to make the county’s work force better reflect, from clerks to agency heads, the population that it serves?

Calderon: The affirmative-action program regarding minorities must be thoroughly examined. We should seek public input regarding the county’s employment interview and application process to see if there are inequities and unfairness in the system, and make immediate changes if there are.

Flores: I fought discrimination as a founding member of the Chicano Employees Assn. and Status of Women Commission. We must increase recruitment of Latinos, more role models, improve bilingual services and ensure that all, including Latinos, who receive high test scores are promoted.

Molina: Linking management merit increases to affirmative-action progress is one way to ensure fairer representation for all groups in the county work force. Monitoring progress, improving recruitment practices, and wider advertisement of available opportunities, is another.

Torres: Recently, I went before the board and spoke out against the county’s discriminatory hiring and promotion practices. I outlined seven reasonable goals to be implemented by the board and 19 recommendations designed to assist in the implementation of those goals.

Five Other Candidates

The five other candidates in the Jan. 22 First District election are: Joe Chavez, a computer analyst for the county; Louis Anthony Chitty III, an educator; Khalil Khalil, a county engineer; Jim Mihalka, a paramedic and businessman, and Gonzalo Molina, a frequent candidate who is not related to Councilwoman Molina.

If no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote, the two top finishers will meet in a Feb. 19 runoff. Voter information is available at (213) 721-1100.

Profile of Candidates

Name: Charles M. Calderon Age: 40 Current Position: State Senator, 26th District Political Party*: Democrat College and Degree: B.A., Cal State L.A.; J.D., UC Davis Previous Political Offices Held: State Assembly, 59th District; School Board, Montebello Dist. Name: Sarah Flores Age: 53 Current Position: Ex-Senior Deputy Supervisor Political Party*: Republican College and Degree: A.A., L.A. City Previous Political Offices Held: None Name: Gloria Molina Age: 42 Current Position: Los Angeles City Council member Political Party*: Democrat College and Degree: Attended East L.A. College, Rio Hondo College, Cal State L.A. Previous Political Offices Held: State Assembly, 59th District Name: Art Torres Age: 44 Current Position: State Senator 24th District Political Party*: Democrat College and Degree: B.A., UC Santa Cruz; J.D., UC Davis Previous Political Offices Held: State Assembly, 56th District * Board of Supervisors candidates do not run by political party.