In Sharp Shift From ‘92, Rep. Tucker Now Faces Inexperienced Rival

Two years ago, Rep. Walter R. Tucker III (D-Compton) inched past Compton schools trustee Lynn Dymally in a bitter Democratic primary for the 37th Congressional District that featured name-calling and public shouting matches.

This time, Tucker appears headed for a smoother ride. His opponent, Rancho Palos Verdes businessman Lew Prulitsky, has no political experience, and so far has offered mild criticism.

Prulitsky, 61, says Tucker is unresponsive, rarely shows up in the district, and has failed to introduce significant legislation. Tucker, 36, a former Compton mayor, said he visits the district three or four times a month.

Tucker says that during his two years in the House he has worked to keep the Long Beach Naval shipyard open, to bring a job training center to Wilmington and a light-rail manufacturing plant to Long Beach.

What remains to be seen is whether an FBI bribery probe into Tucker and other former Compton officials will hurt his reelection hopes. Tucker said his financial records have been subpoenaed. He denies any wrongdoing.

The winner of the primary will face Libertarian Guy Wilson of San Pedro in the November general election. There are no Republican candidates.

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33rd DISTRICT:

( Bell, Bell Gardens, Commerce, Cudahy, South Gate, Huntington Park, Maywood, Vernon, Florence, Walnut Park, parts of Downey, Los Angeles, East Los Angeles )

Freshman Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-Los Angeles), 52, is considered a heavy favorite to recapture the seat she won two years ago. She faces only one challenger in the primary, a political newcomer making his first bid for elective office, and there are no Republican candidates.

Roybal-Allard’s Democratic challenger is Charles E. Green, 73, a self-described human-rights advocate who says he served 10 years on a senior citizens’ advisory panel to the state Legislature.

The winner will face Peace and Freedom candidate Kermit Booker, 57, a teacher at Lynwood High School.

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34th District

(Montebello, Pico Rivera, Norwalk, Santa Fe Springs, Industry, Whittier, La Puente, Bassett, east Los Angeles, Hacienda Heights, Los Nietos, Rosemead, South San Gabriel and Valinda)

Rep. Esteban E. Torres (D-Pico Rivera), who is seeking his seventh term, is unopposed in the Democratic primary. Torres will face two Whittier challengers in November: businessman Albert J. Nunez, a Republican, and Libertarian Carl M. (Marty) Swinney.

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38th District

(Long Beach, Signal Hill, Bellflower, Downey, Lakewood, Paramount, San Pedro)

Freshman Rep. Steve Horn (R-Long Beach) is waging his first reelection campaign even while he recuperates from prostate surgery.

Horn, 62, underwent surgery Monday in Washington, six weeks after doctors found evidence of the cancer during a routine examination. “It was caught in a very early and treatable stage,” said Horn’s spokeswoman, Mary Hinds.

Horn faces one primary challenger, John B. Duke, a quality assurance consultant with Control Design Systems in Los Angeles. Duke, 49, is a newcomer to politics.

The winner will face challengers from three parties in November: Democrat Peter Mathews, Libertarian Lester W. Mueller and Peace and Freedom candidate Richard K. Green.

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39th District

(Cerritos, Artesia, Lakewood, La Mirada, La Habra Heights, East Whittier, La Habra, Hawaiian Gardens, Long Beach, La Palma, Anaheim, Los Alamitos, Brea, Buena Park, Cypress, Yorba Linda, Fullerton and Placentia)

Rep. Ed Royce (R-Fullerton) has no opponent in the Republican primary. He will face two challengers in November.

Royce’s Democratic opponent will be R.O. (Bob) Davis, 57, a contractor from Buena Park making his second run at elective office. In 1986, Davis ran unsuccessfully in the 33rd state Senate District. Libertarian Jack Dean also is running.

Community correspondents Psyche Pascual, Emily Adams and John Pope contributed to this story.