Ferraro and Holden Appear to Be Facing Easy Reelection

Two Los Angeles City Council members whose districts reach into the Westside apparently have little to worry about in the April 9 primary election--one has a free ride back into office, and the other faces a sole challenger who is refusing campaign contributions.

City Council President John Ferraro, 66, will appear alone on the ballot in the 4th District, which loops from Hancock Park, past Silver Lake and into the San Fernando Valley.

The five-term councilman has served since 1987 as president of the City Council, presiding over meetings and making council committee assignments that help set the agenda for council debate.

Councilman Nate Holden, whose 10th District stretches along the Santa Monica Freeway from Palms to the West Adams neighborhood near downtown, will face only one opponent.

Former schoolteacher Esther M. Lofton is challenging Holden again, even though she received less than 100 votes when she ran against him in 1987.

Lofton, 60, has decided not to accept campaign contributions in her attempt to defeat the one-term councilman. She said that in her campaign she plans to stress the need to create more opportunities for blacks to work for the city.

Holden’s first term in office has been marked by his outspokenness on city issues, although some council members say he is too combative with colleagues and city bureaucrats.

The lack of interest in the 10th District seat is in stark contrast to four years ago, when Holden and 12 others ran for the office left open by the resignation of Councilman David Cunningham.

Holden won that race by defeating Homer Broome Jr., Mayor Tom Bradley’s choice for the seat, in a runoff. Holden then unsuccessfully challenged Bradley for the mayor’s office two years ago.