Sidley Could Sway State Senate Race

Until recently, the 28th State Senate District primary focused on the battle between incumbent Ralph C. Dills (D-El Segundo) and Torrance Councilman George Nakano.

But Venice attorney Mike Sidley, a political unknown when he entered the race three months ago, has spent $141,785 this year, ahead of Nakano with $84,598 but still far behind Dills with $337,053.

Depending on whom you ask, a strong showing by Sidley on Tuesday will boost the fortunes of either Dills or Nakano. But the Sidley campaign predicts a victory.

“He is the front-runner,” said Rick Rosenthal, Sidley’s campaign manager.

Dills, 84, is running in a reapportioned district that includes the beach cities and Torrance, where he is largely unknown.

His rivals have tried to target him as a longtime incumbent out of touch with voters. But a strong Sidley showing could draw votes away from Nakano and hand the race to Dills, analysts say. In the 1974 primary, Dills won when a third candidate entered the race and drew votes away from a strong challenger.

“(Sidley’s spending) hurts George more than it hurts us,” said Tim Mock, Dills’ campaign manager.

Sidley, 32, sent three mailers within one week in early May, before Dills and Nakano started mailing.

“Now Nakano is the ‘Johnny come lately’ to the majority of the electorate,” Rosenthal said.

But others predict that Dills will be hurt the most because both challengers are attacking his incumbency.

“People will be turned off by Dills,” said Loyola Marymount political science professor Fernando J. Guerra. “In a way, he will be splitting the Anglo vote.”

Nakano’s campaign also has the most cash, apparently to be used for a last-minute blitz in the mail or on cable TV. According to the latest campaign disclosure statements, Nakano had $130,765 in cash on hand to Sidley’s $34,748. Dills had $95,448.

Much of Sidley’s money has been spent establishing name recognition, whereas Nakano is well-known in Torrance and neighboring cities, said Debbie Cox, Nakano’s campaign manager.

In a Dills campaign poll, Sidley ranked behind Manhattan Beach real estate broker Jo Ann Rodda, who plans to spend no more than $1,000 on the race. But that poll was conducted before Sidley sent out his mailers.

Sidley “doesn’t have a natural base,” Cox said. “He is just not known.”

Nakano has drawn support from environmentalists, including the Sierra Club and the California League of Conservation Voters. Last week, the Sierra Club’s Angeles chapter charged that Sidley has implied that he has received the club’s endorsement. Sidley joined the group in April.

“He’s a nice enough guy, but he really doesn’t have a program; he has ambition,” said Emil Lawton, chairman of the Sierra Club’s political committee.

Sidley is a member of the Los Angeles County Environmental Crimes Sentencing Task Force, and his family members have long been affiliated with the Sierra Club, Rosenthal said.

“It’s not a matter of when he joined the organization or when he went to the meetings,” Rosenthal said. “It’s a matter of commitment to the environment.”