Hardeman Faces New Bid by Old Foe in Inglewood : Election: Ex-councilman defeated in court-ordered election is among three challengers for the seat.

The longstanding battle between Inglewood City Councilman Garland Hardeman and political rival Ervin (Tony) Thomas, who was ousted from the council in 1989 amid allegations of election fraud, took a new turn this week when Thomas filed nomination papers to challenge Hardeman in the April 2 election.

Thomas beat Hardeman in a June, 1987, council election, but a Superior Court judge annulledThomas’ victory after finding that his campaign workers had violated election laws by intimidating voters during a house-to-house absentee ballot drive.

Thomas served on the council two years until his appeal of the judge’s decision was denied. In a court-ordered election in October, 1989, Hardeman defeated Thomas by a 3-1 ratio.

In an interview Friday, Hardeman, who became the target of an unsuccessful recall effort just six months after he took office, dismissed Thomas’ latest challenge.

“I think it’s really an embarrassing situation that he would consider running for any office in the city of Inglewood ever,” Hardeman said. “He really disgraced the city. . . . I don’t see Tony Thomas being any threat whatsoever.”

Thomas could not be reached for comment.

Former Inglewood Councilman Virgle Benson, who lost a bid for the mayor’s seat in November, and retired City Administrator William R. McKown, who endorsed Hardeman in the last election, have also filed nomination papers for the seat in Hardeman’s ethnically diverse 4th District, which encompasses the southern part of the city and includes Hollywood Park, The Forum and the Lockhaven and Imperial Village neighborhoods.

McKown, who previously served on the Inglewood school board and is a former director of the city Planning Department, said he decided to run against Hardeman because “I’m afraid his animosity with the mayor is overshadowing getting positive things done in the district.”

One other council seat and two school board positions also are at stake in the April election. All terms are for four years.

Although all the candidates filed nomination papers before Thursday’s deadline, no candidacy will be official until Monday, when county authorities verify that each candidate obtained at least 20 valid signatures from resident voters.

Inglewood Councilman Jose Fernandez, who completed the unexpired term of deceased Councilwoman Ann Wilk, is also up for reelection. Fernandez, who represents the 3rd District, which includes the largely Latino central and southwestern areas of the city, is being challenged by businessman E. David Lawrence II.

City Clerk Hermanita V. Harris, who first took office in 1985, and City Treasurer Wanda M. Brown, who was elected in 1987, are both running unopposed in their bids for reelection.

Inglewood school board President Lois Hill-Hale, who was elected to the board’s 4th District in June, 1987, is also running for reelection. Hill-Hale, who is a governmental relations consultant, will face activist Mildred McNair, a frequent critic who has made several unsuccessful bids for a board seat over the years.

Hill-Hale, who spearheaded the creation of a drug clinic on the Morningside High School campus during her first year on the school board, said she is confident that she will be reelected “because of the significant changes and improve ments I’ve made since I’ve been serving on the school board, especially in the area of progressive educational school programs.” McNair could not be reached for comment.

Board member Zyra McCloud, also elected in June, 1987, will face three challengers in the election, including businesswoman Sandra L. Mack, a parent who protested the firing of Inglewood High School Principal Lawrence Freeman. McCloud, who represents the board’s 5th District, initially supported the ouster of the controversial principal but later changed her mind.

Also running for the seat are the Rev. Loystene L. Irvin, a minister and businesswoman who has been a strong board critic, and Dexter A. Henderson, an administrator for a regional center that serves developmentally disabled adults and children.