LOCAL ELECTIONS / COUNTY SUPERVISORS : Rep. Waters Endorses Burke Over Watson in County Board Race

In what could be a turning point in the hotly contested 2nd District county supervisor’s race, Rep. Maxine Waters on Wednesday endorsed former Rep. Yvonne Brathwaite Burke over state Sen. Diane Watson.

“It’s not a question of what the candidates say, or their positions on the issues,” said Waters, considered one of the most influential politicians in Los Angeles. “The difference is what they accomplish. . . . Yvonne Burke has real plans to build businesses and bring jobs into the area. . . . Yvonne Burke will get the job done.”

Political handicappers said the Waters endorsement provides a big boost to Burke’s efforts to build support in heavily black and poor South-Central Los Angeles, an area that Watson is counting on for support.

The endorsement by Waters surprised some, since the congresswoman’s fiery style is much like that of Watson.

“Any suggestion that (Burke) may not be the kind of fighter that the African-American community needs in that position is laid to rest by the Waters’ endorsement,” said Cynthia McClain-Hill, a Burke supporter who publishes a political newsletter.

But Watson said Wednesday: “Endorsements don’t vote. People do.” Then, referring to Burke’s move into the district to run for the seat, she added: “It’s really hard for me to understand how somebody who moved back in (to the district) can receive the kind of support from a community-based leader who says that she aligns herself with progressive people.”

Burke and Watson are battling for the seat being vacated by retiring Supervisor Kenneth Hahn. The winner will become the first black elected to the powerful County Board of Supervisors. Burke, the only black ever to serve on the board, was appointed in 1979 by then-Gov. Edmund G. (Jerry) Brown Jr. but lost the 1980 election to Deane Dana.

Burke, who also has been endorsed by the popular retiring supervisor, said that she will tout the endorsements by Hahn and Waters in mailers and radio ads in the final days leading up to the election. Waters also said she will walk precincts for Burke.

Burke, whose strongest base of support has been in affluent Westside neighborhoods, said that the endorsement sends the message: “I’ll be good for South-Central Los Angeles.”

Rick Taylor, a political consultant who worked earlier this year on Watson’s supervisorial campaign, called Waters’ endorsement “a devastating blow to the Watson campaign.”

But Watson further downplayed the significance, saying: “Consider the last races where she endorsed,” referring to Waters’ backing of several losing candidates in recent years.

“If the pattern continues, I’m really in a good position,” Watson said.

Sherry Bebitch Jeffe, senior associate at the Center for Politics and Policy at Claremont Graduate School, said: “Yvonne will go on Maxine’s slate, and that’s probably the biggest benefit of all. . . . Let me tell you, in this community Maxine’s slate is read and responded to.”

Watson recently failed to show up at a candidates’ forum organized by the congresswoman, saying she had made a previous commitment to address the United Domestic Workers of America conference in Fresno.

In addition, Watson last month exchanged words with Waters’ son, Ed, at a Democratic voter-registration drive that he had organized.

“The senator felt that she was not acknowledged early on,” said Holly Mitchell, a Watson campaign consultant. “She said it was inappropriate and suggested that she thought perhaps Mr. Waters’ mother would not condone such an oversight. That was it.”

But Ann Marie Johnson, an actress who attended the event, recalled it differently: “She said his mother raised him better than that, and he should be ashamed of himself.”

Waters said Wednesday that while the incidents were “not the significant reason” for her endorsement of Burke, “I certainly have recorded (them) for one of the characteristics that will not make for good leadership.”

Waters announced the endorsement before about 100 Burke supporters at a rally at the candidate’s Crenshaw Boulevard headquarters on Wednesday.

“Yvonne doesn’t just make a lot of noise,” Waters said. “She doesn’t grandstand. . . . Instead, Yvonne Burke applies her considerable abilities and talents to solving problems, delivering services, writing and introducing laws, and working with her colleagues for their successful passage.”

Burke said the endorsement shows that she is “bringing the people together.” She went on to underscore the point during a rally Wednesday by introducing a wide range of supporters, from boxer Henry Tillman to a leader of the county lifeguards’ union.

Times staff writer John L. Mitchell contributed to this story.