CITY COUNCIL ELECTIONS 8TH DISTRICT RUNOFF : Campaigns of Ridley-Thomas and Wright Are Running in Red

In the battle to capture the 8th District City Council seat, candidates Roderick Wright and Mark Ridley-Thomas have often found themselves on opposite sides of the issues. But on paper, at least, the two campaign combatants share a common fate--large debts.

The cost of running busy campaigns with glossy mailers, phone banks and staff members have pushed both camps into the red, according to recently released financial reports.

Wright has spent $54,000 more than the $101,950 he has raised in campaign funds since January. And Ridley-Thomas has spent $135,000 more than the $228,000 he has raised over the same period.

The expense has not daunted either candidate in their torrid drives to win the June 4 runoff and succeed retiring Robert Farrell, who has held the office for 17 years.

Neither Wright nor Ridley-Thomas plans to scrimp on the campaign during the last days before the election.

“There has been a shortage of campaign contributions for all candidates,” Wright said.

“If you want to do it right, you can’t cut corners,” said Ridley-Thomas, adding that the recession has taken some of the steam out of campaign giving.

Many residents in the district, which stretches from Watts to Koreatown, have middle or low incomes and have not contributed to the candidates’ coffers.

Despite financial shortfalls, both candidates were engaged in a heavy weekend of campaigning to bolster their chances in the runoff.

Wright, a political consultant who served as an aide to U. S. Rep. Maxine Waters when she was in the state Assembly, met with several neighborhood groups to stress what he called his experience in understanding how the political system works and his neighborhood roots.

At a community gathering Saturday, Wright told a group of about 40 residents that he shared their concerns about drugs, gangs and the general deterioration of the neighborhood.

“I am part of this community, I didn’t just come here,” said Wright, 38, who grew up in the 8th District. “I’ve been here a long time.”

Wright, who is endorsed by Waters, Assemblywoman Marguerite Archie-Hudson and Assemblyman Willard Murray, told the gathering he has the political expertise to deliver on promises to clean up streets and alleys and bring economic redevelopment to the area.

Meanwhile, Ridley-Thomas, 36, who grew up in South-Central Los Angeles but not in the 8th District, said he has “a proven record of leadership” in the 10 years he served as executive director of the Los Angeles chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, which sponsored a number of programs including landlord-tenant mediation and rape counseling.

The Ridley-Thomas campaign sent about 200 volunteers into the district Saturday in an attempt to speak face to face with 1,000 voters to appeal for support. Ridley-Thomas’ campaign is endorsed by Mayor Tom Bradley, Rep. Mervyn Dymally and Farrell.

Many observers in the race say both candidates have strong support in the district and that the race is too close to call.

“Both candidates are good,” said Randy Thomas, who lives in Watts and owns a truck company. “We are talking a drag race. It will be hard to tell who is going to win.”

Last Thursday, the Southern California Organizing Committee, a group representing 30 churches, held a public forum for candidates from the 8th, 6th and 9th districts.

The candidates, including Wright and Ridley-Thomas, were given three minutes each to answer five questions on issues ranging from low-income housing to the Los Angeles Police Department.

The organizing committee has called for more affordable housing, greater economic redevelopment, city funds to promote voter registration and police accountability. Under the strict time limits, none of the candidates could do more than agree with the committee’s position and promise to work with the group if elected.

“That’s just what we wanted to hear,” said Frances James, the committee’s co-chairwoman.