ELECTIONS CITY COUNCIL : Alatorre Thinks His Experience Is the Key : 14th District: Rival Alvin Parra, however, says incumbent’s years as a high-profile politician have done little good.

The signs, the crowd, everything seemed evenly split between Los Angeles City Councilman Richard Alatorre and his challenger, newcomer Alvin Parra.

But as the two candidates for the District 14 council seat went head to head in a campaign debate recently, there was at least one glaring advantage that the incumbent held over Parra: political experience.

“I have more than 20 years representing the community,” Alatorre, who turns 52 next month, told about 120 people at an East Los Angeles church. “I have never turned my back on the community.”

For Parra, 26, the goal throughout the campaign has been to convince voters before the April 11 primary that Alatorre’s years as a high-profile politician--the last 10 as a city councilman--have done them little good.

In his first run at political office, Parra has focused on what he calls Alatorre’s failure to provide basic services in the district, a largely Latino area that includes all or part of Boyle Heights, El Sereno, Highland Park and Eagle Rock. Joblessness, gang violence and graffiti are among the most prevalent problems facing residents.

Many observers believe Parra’s chances of beating Alatorre are slim. The incumbent, although shunned last month for an endorsement by the Los Angeles County Democratic Central Committee, remains politically powerful and highly popular in the district. He is backed by many other politicians and has raised about $265,000 so far compared to about $16,000 for his challenger.

Parra has campaigned hard on the theme that Alatorre is inaccessible and his staff is rude. Residents are treated badly when it comes to complaints about relatively small problems such as potholes or trash collection, Parra supporters say.

“I don’t believe Mr. Alatorre has been doing a good job,” said Parra, who is single and lives in El Sereno with his mother and two brothers. “My job is to give the voters a reason to vote for change.”

During a break at his Huntington Drive campaign headquarters, Parra said he expects dissatisfied voters to favor him.

“The residents of this district realize we’re being neglected,” he said.

For Alatorre, getting reelected will allow him four more years to work on projects he believes are steadily helping his constituents. He is proud of pushing for more police protection, additional funding for anti-gang programs and affordable housing.

“I believe in giving opportunities,” Alatorre said. “That’s why I’m involved in the building of a youth center in El Sereno.”

Alatorre’s many posts include chairman of the council’s Budget and Finance Committee and he is a board member of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

He grew up in East Los Angeles and lives in Monterey Hills with his third wife, Angie. He has two sons, Darrell, 29, his campaign manager, and Derrick, 30.

“I’ll stand by my record. I’m not out of touch,” Alatorre said at his Eagle Rock campaign headquarters. “I take the people of this district very serious.”

Alatorre, who was first elected to the state Assembly at the age of 29, said it is easy for challengers, especially inexperienced ones, to blame incumbents for the multitude of problems that exist in the community. There is a naivete about what it takes to accomplish goals when you are working with 14 other council members who have their own districts to worry about, he said.

“You have to understand how decisions are made in the political process. I didn’t make the rules, but I learned them,” he said. “I need other elected officials to help.”

To Parra, who majored in political science at UCLA and worked as a volunteer or staff member for several local politicians--he was an intern in Alatorre’s office in college--such statements amount to little more than excuses.

Alatorre has had his chance to improve life in the district, he said.

Parra said he would make sure residents received personal attention, and said he would push for job and business development in the district.

“There’s no economic development,” Parra said. “He has not articulated his plan for the future. I’m part of a younger generation who sees there are no jobs here. There are no opportunities here.”

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Council District 14: The ditrict includes all or parts of Boyle Heights, El Sereno, Highland Park and Eagle Rock.