Roybal Decides Not to Seek Reelection : Politics: The 75-year-old Democrat, dean of Los Angeles’ Latino elected officials, cited his wife’s delicate health as a major reason for his retirement.

Veteran Democratic Rep. Edward R. Roybal, the dean of Los Angeles’ Latino elected officials who was the first Mexican-American elected to the Los Angeles City Council, said Monday night that he will not seek reelection to Congress next year.

The 75-year-old lawmaker said he decided to retire because of his wife’s delicate health and his desire to work full time to establish scholarships for Latinos interested in the field of gerontology, the study of aging.

Roybal said recently that he was looking forward to becoming part of the first father-daughter team in Congress, saying his health was as good as ever. Assemblywoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-Los Angeles) has announced her intention to run in the newly created 33rd Congressional District.

But the congressman told a crowd of 70 supporters at a Commerce restaurant that wife Lucille’s health was threatened by continual travel back and forth between Los Angeles and Washington. “And I don’t want to be away from my wife,” Roybal said.

Roybal was confident he would have won in a realigned congressional district approved by the state Supreme Court earlier this month.

While he repeatedly won in the 25th Congressional District--which encompasses downtown Los Angeles and the Eastside--he was set to run in the newly created 30th Congressional District, an open district that was centered north and west of downtown. The new district includes portions of Lincoln Heights, Highland Park, Glassell Park, Echo Park, Silver Lake, Koreatown and East Hollywood.

Roybal’s decision probably will touch off a scramble for the 30th District seat, but he left no doubt whom he wanted to succeed him. He endorsed his longtime chief of staff, Henry Lozano, to prolonged applause of those in attendance at Stevens Steak House.

Despite his boss’ support, Lozano, 58, may face a tough fight for the Democratic nomination for the new seat. A spokesman for Assemblyman Richard Polanco (D-Los Angeles) said he was “very seriously” considering a bid for the seat.

Roybal’s decision ends a 43-year political career in which he championed the rights of his Eastside constituents and other disadvantaged Southland residents.

He won election to the Los Angeles City Council in 1949, serving as the first Mexican-American member. He was then considered an up-and-coming liberal who, in 1958, was on the verge of winning a seat on the Board of Supervisors.

On election night, Roybal held a 390-vote lead, but a 12,000-vote error was discovered. Although there were four recounts, Roybal lost the disputed election to Ernest Debs. He continued to serve on the City Council until he was elected to Congress four years later.

In Washington, he continued his liberal agenda, becoming an ardent supporter of bilingual education and health programs for the elderly. His work in the health area prompted county officials to name a comprehensive health center at 3rd Street and Mednik Avenue in East Los Angeles in his honor.

He also championed the rights of illegal immigrants in this country. Although the landmark 1986 amnesty law was enacted over his opposition, Roybal was instrumental in getting Congress to approve funds to provide medical, welfare and educational services.

In 1978, Roybal was humiliated when he was censured by his colleagues in the House of Representatives after he admitted he had lied about a $1,000 gift he received from South Korean lobbyist Tongsun Park. But the episode made no difference to his largely Latino constituents, who returned him to Congress that year.