Dills’ Japanese American record is put on the line.

LOCKYER’S HELP: State Senate President Pro Tem Bill Lockyer (D-Hayward) has thrown his support behind state Sen. Ralph C. Dills (D-Gardena), the 84-year-old Sacramento veteran who is facing a strong challenge in the June 7 primary.

Lockyer criticized Torrance Councilman George Nakano, a Japanese American, for challenging Dills in the Democratic primary June 7. Dills has long been personally and politically allied with Japanese Americans.

“Everything I have heard is that council member Nakano is a very fine person,” Lockyer said. But he noted that Dills was vilified by colleagues in 1943 when he was a state assemblyman for opposing Japanese internment camps.

“There’s something wrong about terminating” Dills’ career when it is “about to end anyway because of term limits--by someone who is from the (Japanese American) community,” Lockyer said. “People’s memories should not be so short.”

Nakano, who was in a relocation camp for four years during World War II, called Lockyer’s comment “a very condescending remark.”

“If someone took a strong stand against women’s rights, does that mean a woman shouldn’t be able to run against them?” Nakano said.

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NAME FROM THE PAST: Venice attorney Mike Sidley, who also is running against Dills in the primary, got a recent endorsement from a familiar name: Ford Roosevelt, grandson of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

The endorsement helps the candidate bring up Dills’ tenure in Sacramento. Ford Roosevelt “pointed out that Dills was first elected to the California state Legislature in 1938, during his grandfather’s second term in office,” according to a press release from Sidley’s office.

But the endorsement doesn’t seem to ruffle any feathers in the Dills campaign.

“So?” responded Tim Mock, Dills’ campaign manager. “I don’t get the point. The senator has been there (since 1938). It’s a benefit to the South Bay.”

Dills, in fact, met FDR as a young state lawmaker.

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ON THE CALENDAR: The League of Women Voters will hold a forum Sunday for candidates in three South Bay primary races.

Those scheduled to attend from the 53rd Assembly District: Republicans David Bohline and Julian Sirull, Libertarian William Gaillard, and Peace and Freedom candidate J. Kevin Bishop. Incumbent Debra Bowen (D-Torrance) has another engagement and will not attend.

Candidates scheduled from the 28th Senate District: Democrats Dills, Nakano, Sidley and JoAnne Rodda, Republican David Barrett Cohen, Libertarian Neal Arvid Donner, and Peace and Freedom candidate Cindy V. Henderson.

Candidates due to attend from the 36th Congressional District: Republicans Ron Florance and Susan Brooks, American Independent Joseph Fields and Libertarian Jack Tyler. Incumbent Jane Harman (D-Marina del Rey) will not be able to attend.