11 Candidates Are Vying for 2 Spots on Compton Council : Politics: All appear to agree on many major issues. ‘Quietest election’ comes in wake of racial tensions last summer.

Compton voters go to the polls Tuesday to select two City Council members from a field of 11 candidates, all of whom seem to agree on many key issues.

All but one of the candidates, for example, oppose ballot measures that would make the mayor and four council positions full time and give them hefty pay increases.

Incumbent Ronald Green, who is seeking a second term in the 1st Council District, is the exception. Green has refused to take a position on the proposals.

The feeling among candidates is unanimous on an advisory ballot measure asking voters if a state prison should be built in the city. The candidates urge a resounding no vote.

With so much agreement, candidates and political pundits alike are calling this the most peaceful campaign in recent memory. If no candidate for either council seat receives more than 50% of the vote, the top two vote-getters in each race will meet in a June runoff election.

“This is the quietest election I’ve ever seen,” said Pedro Pallan, president of the Latino United Coalition, which was expected to take an active role in the election.

After racial tensions boiled to the surface last summer following the videotaped beating of a Latino teen-ager by an African American police officer, Latino activists demanded equal opportunity from black city leaders. Latinos comprise the majority of the city’s population, but few Latinos are in the city’s work force, activists pointed out.

The coalition backed two candidates for council: Compton Unified school board member Gorgonio Sanchez Jr. in the 1st District and longtime political activist Lorraine Cervantes in the 4th District.

While many worried that the campaign would turn ugly and racially divisive, the Latino coalition has intentionally kept a low profile, Pallan said.

“We need the trust of the African American community,” Pallan said. “They think we’re trying to take over, but we really just want representation.”

At candidates’ forums, there are only vague references to racial issues, with candidates promising to bring a sense of peace and togetherness to the city.

In the 4th District, which covers the city’s southeast section, Councilwoman Jane D. Robbins is seeking a sixth term. Robbins, 75, takes pride in never actively campaigning and, true to form, has not attended any forums this season.

Robbins is challenged by Cervantes, 53; Fred Cressel, 57, who owns a stationery store and restaurant, and Richard Bonner, a beauty shop owner who has faced Robbins in five of her six campaigns.

In the 1st District, covering the northwest quarter of the city, Green faces five challengers in addition to school board member Sanchez, 62.

Green, 33, was appointed to the council two years ago to fill the position vacated by newly elected Mayor Omar Bradley. Council members are elected citywide, but must live in the district they seek to represent.

Other challengers are Delores Zurita, 59, who unsuccessfully ran two years ago for treasurer; Stephen J. Randle, 27, a former teacher who now evaluates educational materials for the state; Walter Goodin, 45, a Baptist minister and former council candidate; Alfonso (Al) Cabrera, frequent council and school board candidate, and Toi Jackson, a Compton school board member.

Campaign war chests range from Zurita’s $3,100, which she nd her daughter loaned to the campaign, to no funds by Cabrera. Four candidates--Green, Jackson, Goodin and Cervantes--failed to meet the March 23 deadline for reporting contributions and expenditures to the city clerk.