Flores Faces 5 Opponents in Bid for Fourth Council Term : Politics: At least two of the declared candidates might not have entered the race for the San Pedro-to-Watts district if she had announced her candidacy earlier.

City Councilwoman Joan Milke Flores might be facing an easier run for reelection in April if she had been quicker to decide whether to seek another term.

After losing Nov. 3 in a bid for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, the San Pedro Republican waited until Christmas Eve to declare her candidacy for a fourth term in the 15th Council District, which stretches from San Pedro to Watts.

The delay prompted at least two candidates with broad name recognition to formally enter the race: Los Angeles Unified school board member Warren Furutani and Janice K. Hahn, daughter of former County Supervisor Kenneth Hahn.

“With an incumbent that has a history of winning, needless to say she will be the odds-on favorite,” said Furutani, who announced his candidacy Thursday. “So normally you just sort of wait your turn for when they decide not to run again.

“But she kept delaying and delaying so we kept working. Our concern was that if she didn’t run and we didn’t do the legwork, then we’d be caught flat-footed.”

In declaring his candidacy, Furutani said the city and the 15th District need new leaders to shake up the status quo at City Hall.

“No longer will part of our community be used as a junkyard for Los Angeles . . . no longer will parts of it . . . not even be looked at as a part of this great city,” Furutani told reporters at a news conference outside City Hall.

After Flores’ loss in the congressional race to Democrat Jane Harman--an upset that astonished many in the Harbor area--Hahn too was skeptical about taking on the incumbent.

But like Furutani, Hahn--who has publicly declared her candidacy--became increasingly encouraged to jump in the longer Flores delayed her decision.

“I think the fact that she has wanted to move on, running for other offices, sends a clear message to constituents that she no longer wants to represent them in City Hall,” Hahn said. “Had she come back right after the election and said to voters, ‘I wanted to serve you on the congressional level but that wasn’t to be, so I’d still like to serve you,’ I probably would not have run.”

To be sure, Flores’ decision to seek reelection has dissuaded some council hopefuls from running.

Among them is San Pedro businessman Xavier Hermosillo, who had long said he would bow out if Flores sought a fourth term.

But Flores still may face numerous rivals from her home base of San Pedro, which normally contributes 45% of the 15th District vote. Watts accounts for about 25% of the vote, Wilmington for 15%, Harbor City for 7% to 10% and Harbor Gateway for 5% to 8%.

Four of the five declared candidates in the 15th District live in San Pedro: Flores, Hahn, attorney Diane Middleton and businessman Rudy Svorinich. Furutani lives in Harbor Gateway.