California IN BRIEF : SIMI VALLEY : Candidate King’s Signs Vandalized

Simi Valley school board candidate Jim King says he should have expected some connection to be made between his surname and that of the man whose court case brought this Ventura County bedroom community notoriety. Over the weekend, a vandal pasted Rodney over King’s first name on about half of his 30 campaign signs. The altered signs read, “Elect Rodney King--a proven investment in our children’s future--for School Board.” Last April, four white Los Angeles police officers were found not guilty in a Simi Valley courtroom on all but one charge of beating black motorist Rodney G. King. The verdicts touched off the Los Angeles riots and led Simi Valley leaders to worry that their town’s reputation was tainted by charges of racism. The candidate said he did not report the crime because the police “have better things to do with their time. . . .”