Former Foes Back Councilman for 7th Term : Politics: Latino alliances are shattered over the endorsement of Thomas E. Jackson, who had been their target for 16 years.

Politics in this overwhelmingly Latino city has taken a strange twist.

Veteran Councilman Thomas E. Jackson, who is fighting for his political life, has won the support of two Latino councilmen who tried for years to take his seat.

Raul R. Perez and Richard V. Loya battled Jackson and his colleagues in election after election dating to 1976, calling for Latino representation on a City Council that remained all-Anglo until two years ago.

But now Perez, who won his council seat in 1990, and Loya, who was appointed to the council in September, have set aside their differences with Jackson and endorsed the veteran official in his bid to win a seventh term in the April 14 election.

Perez and Loya said they decided to back Jackson because his experience and standing as a longtime city official will help them accomplish some key tasks in the next four years. Perez and Jackson have endorsed Loya.

“I told the people I was elected to keep the best interest of the city in mind,” Perez said. “Some people say I’m crazy, but this is a gamble I have to take.”

The endorsements have shattered some alliances among the city’s politically active Latinos, some of whom made Jackson a favorite target.

Councilman Luis Hernandez has thrown his support behind two challengers, Carlos E. Aldas and Agustin Delgadillo, to unseat Jackson and Loya. Hernandez, a strong critic of Jackson, said he decided to oppose Loya because of the Jackson endorsement. The other two candidates are Manuel V. Avila and George E. Fair.

“The community is upset at Loya and Perez,” Hernandez said. “The history of Hispanic politics in Huntington Park is something that Perez and Loya had started--to make change in government. All of a sudden they do a complete reversal once they get in power.”

Jackson, who was first elected in 1968, said the endorsements are key to his reelection in a city where Latino political representation has long been an issue. Once predominantly Anglo, Huntington Park is now more than 90% Latino. Perez and Hernandez in 1990 became the first Latinos ever elected to the City Council.

“(The endorsements) take the racism out of the election,” Jackson said. “We’re dealing with a person’s abilities, a person’s knowledge of the job rather than what race he is.”

But there are other issues dogging Jackson’s campaign.

Jackson was on the council in 1989 when financial problems forced the city to lay off more than 25 employees. He was also the target of a Sheriff’s Department investigation into allegations of profit skimming and other improprieties at the Huntington Park Casino.

Investigators searched Jackson’s home and business last April in connection with the investigation. Jackson, a friend of casino General Manager Curtis J. Fresch, said he and casino officials have done nothing wrong. No charges have been filed in connection with the investigation.

So far, only Delgadillo and Aldas have been highly critical of Jackson. “I don’t think he should be reelected,” said Delgadillo, a restaurant owner. “He has damaged the community.”

Avila and Fair also said Jackson should be replaced, but they are focusing their campaigns on a call for more fiscal responsibility, more police officers to fight crime and better bus service for senior citizens, among other things. Delgadillo and Aldas have sounded similar themes.

“I’ve been trying to be positive, focus on my qualifications, my record, my activities in the community,” said Avila, a social worker and co-chairman of the local chapter of the United Neighborhoods Organization.

Fair, a retired painter, said, “I could stand there and slam-dunk (Jackson) good. But my main thing is what we can do for the city.”

Jackson has been trying to minimize damage from the casino investigation.

In a campaign flyer, Jackson’s campaign committee tells voters the investigation found that he, Councilman William P. Cunningham, former Councilman Jim Roberts and the late Councilman Jack W. Parks were innocent of any wrongdoing. Jackson said an investigator for the district attorney’s office gave that information to Roberts.

But a spokesman for the district attorney’s office said the case is pending and declined further comment.

Perez and Loya said the casino investigation has been trying for the city, but they noted that Jackson is innocent until proven guilty.

They said Jackson, an ardent supporter of redevelopment, must take some of the responsibility for the city’s financial woes. They pointed out that the city Redevelopment Agency overextended itself in the 1980s, contributing to the city’s financial problems.

But Perez said he was willing to overlook that because Jackson could prove invaluable to the city in the next several years.

“There’s nothing I can do about those things right now,” Perez said. “I’m looking at the future.”

Said Loya, “(Jackson) and I have a lot of disagreements, but when I look at the other candidates and that experience he has. . . .”

Perez and Loya said the main reason they backed Jackson was so he could help push through proposals to reduce train traffic in Huntington Park and to expand the city’s borders.

Jackson is vice chairman of the governing board of the Alameda Corridor Transportation Authority, which is spearheading a plan to transform Alameda Street into a rail and truck expressway from the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach to downtown Los Angeles.

Jackson has been working to make sure the railroad tracks that run along Alameda Street are depressed in a trench to keep trains from blocking roads in Huntington Park. He said he will continue to pursue this goal if reelected.

Perez and Loya also want Jackson’s help on a plan to annex most of the Florence area of unincorporated Los Angeles County, just west of the city. Perez, the city’s mayor, contends that the area, which includes aging buildings and vacant land, would enable heavily populated Huntington Park to attract new businesses and develop more residential neighborhoods. The city would also be more effective in dealing with the Florence area’s gang activity that spills across Huntington Park’s western border, Perez said.

Perez is researching his proposal and has not formally presented it to the City Council.

Jackson could move the annexation proposal forward as chairman of the Local Agency Formation Commission, which decides whether such annexations will take place. “Jackson would be one of the votes who would approve the annexation,” Perez said.

Jackson said he has not promised support for annexation in exchange for Perez’s endorsement. But Jackson added, “unless I find something very wrong with it, I’m not going to be against it.”

Aldas and Delgadillo contend that Perez and Loya have erred by forming an unholy alliance with Jackson and forgetting the past.

Aldas was Perez’s campaign manager during the last election. “We were delivering his message,” said Aldas, who owns a real estate business and travel agency. “When he was elected, he turned his back on us.”

Delgadillo accused Loya of striking a deal with Jackson to win appointment last September and to win votes from Jackson’s supporters in this election.

Loya denied the allegation. “I don’t need his endorsement,” Loya said.

Huntington Park City Council

Huntington Park population: 56,065

Election: April 14

On the ballot: Six candidates for two at-large seats

INCUMBENTS

Thomas E. Jackson

Age: 56

Occupation: Flower shop owner

Remarks: “The biggest issue the city faces is lack of funds to carry out the projects that we would like to accomplish, what needs to be done for the betterment of the city, like more police officers. The bulk of our income is sales tax revenue, and that needs to be increased. We are trying to attract additional businesses to the city, such as car dealers and high-volume stores. We’re also involved in trying to bring a new hospital to the city. We’re also getting rid of two railroads, so, in essence, we’ll have a city without any trains causing gridlock.” He has served on the council for 24 years, and been mayor eight times. “With more money, the citizens will be better served. I think that’s the bottom line.”

Richard V. Loya

Age: 45

Occupation: Health and science high school teacher for Los Angeles Unified School District

Remarks: “Voters are frustrated with rising crime rates in the city. Gangs are the No. 1 issue facing the city today. The quality of education is second, because (youths) represent the future. When we look at crime and gang activity, and you study what kind of people get in them, you see they have poor education. The common denominator is education. There is also a large concern for health care in the city. We’re working to get a new hospital in town, so we can offer more and better services.” He supports Huntington Park becoming a charter city, and approaching the public with a utility user tax to fund additional police protection. “I support increased funding for our Police Department, but the money must be earmarked specifically for more police officers.”

CHALLENGERS

Carlos E. Aldas

Age: 55

Occupation: Real estate broker

Remarks: “Huntington Park is getting short-changed by the actions of some of the incumbents that are running for office. When the city officials elect to award a contract at a loss of $1 million to the city and its community and subsequently increase the rate charged to the community, then it is time for a change. I will ensure that the city utilizes every cent for the benefit and well-being of the community in Huntington Park.” He said elected officials should be held accountable for their actions, and he believes the city needs more police and more jobs. “The community has increased in population, yet the Police Department has lagged behind. I support the increase of businesses to increase the employment opportunities of the residents.”

Manuel V. Avila

Age: 50

Occupation: Social worker for Los Angeles County Public Social Services Department

Remarks: “We need to find new sources of revenue for the city. We also need to work with the business community to train the youth so they can gain experience and training. If we don’t provide for them, they will be tempted to go into the drug dealing business. The parents should be more involved in the schools and local decisions. We have a tremendous problem with drug dealing in (Salt Lake) Park. I would like to save the park for the families, for the children.” He says a permanent police substation would solve the problem at the park but also believes the city needs more police officers. “We can’t just consider the rights of a few compared to the rights of the many. I feel I am able to express the feelings and the needs of the common people.”

Agustin (Auggie) Delgadillo

Age: 56

Occupation: Restaurant owner

Remarks: “The ratio of police here is too poor. Twenty years ago we had 52 officers. Our population has doubled and we now have 59 police officers. It’s outrageous. People don’t feel secure walking down the street; there’s so much crime it’s unbelievable.” He said money is available in the city coffers for additional police protection. “The money is there if you analyze the budget. I think there’s money there for senior citizens’ programs that hasn’t been used. They’ve paid society with their taxes and blood. They shouldn’t have to wait two to three hours for a dial-a-ride bus. I want to do something for the city I love. If elected, I will personally have a 24-hour hot line at my own expense for open communication with the people I would represent.”

George Fair

Age: 62

Occupation: Retired painter

Remarks: “We need more police, more local programs to combat gangs, drugs and school violence. We’ve got the same number of police that we’ve had for years, but crime has gone up. We have 200 cars stolen a month. It’s not the police’s fault--there just aren’t enough of them. We need more money for neighborhood block watches.” He favors a two-term limit for council members and laws to block toxic waste dumping in the city. “About a month ago, truckloads of waste were dumped at Salt Lake Park. Some laws need to be made to ensure it doesn’t happen again. We need more help for the senior citizens; they’re having to wait an hour or more for buses. And the council has to have more and better communication with the residents.”