Runoffs to Decide Mayoral Races in Pomona, Redondo

Pomona’s surge in Latino population was reflected in Tuesday’s municipal election as two Latinos led the field of eight candidates for mayor to qualify for a runoff in April.

Councilman Tomas Ursua gained more than 38% of the vote but fell short of the 50% required to avoid a runoff. He will face planning commissioner Eddie Cortez, who edged Paul Geiger for the runner-up spot. Geiger, a political newcomer, ran with the backing of Mayor Donna Smith, who did not seek reelection.

Meanwhile, in Redondo Beach, Mayor Brad Parton also fell short of outright victory in Tuesday’s municipal election. He had 44.6 of the vote against four opponents. Former Councilman Ron Cawdrey, who had 27.2, will face him in the May 11 runoff.

Parton was beaten just four months ago in an Assembly race in which he was criticized for ties to the religious right.

In Pomona, Ursua and Cortez emerged victorious a primary election that was widely billed as a test of whether the surge in Latino population would translate into political power for Latino candidates.

The city’s Latino population more than doubled in the 1980s, reaching 51% of the total in the 1990 census.

During the campaign, Ursua touted his experience from four years on the council, while Cortez stressed his community involvement in everything from youth organizations to business groups, and Geiger ran as a fresh face with strong business experience.

The candidates differed on two significant issues, fire service and billboards. Ursua supported negotiations to turn over the city Fire Department to the county and to contract with the county for fire service, and he voted for a controversial agreement to allow a sign company to put up 10 freeway billboards in exchange for tearing down 30 billboards in the city’s interior. Cortez and Geiger campaigned for retention of the city Fire Department and against new billboards.

In the Redondo Beach election, Parton had spent $8,500 by the last campaign reporting period--far more than his opponents. He said he needed to spend the money to counteract the negative publicity lingering from his Assembly campaign.

Parton became a controversial figure during his first term as mayor by launching a war on pornography, by demanding that a South Bay adult school offer Bible studies to balance a New Age religion course, and by opposing a liquor permit for a gay pride event in a city park.