A Political Slowdown in Catalina

These days, locals on Santa Catalina Island ever on the lookout for new arrivals are as likely to see a politician step off a boat in picturesque Avalon Harbor as they are a tourist putting ashore from a cruise ship.

The locals like the tourists more. The islanders tend to be divided about politicians. Still, they seem to like anyone who visits, even someone running for office--just as long as they follow the local political customs.

During a political season when state and national candidates are going after other voting groups, such as soccer moms and newly registered immigrants, like heat-seeking missiles, islanders tell candidates it’s best to remember that in Avalon, relaxed is in; intense is out.

“You don’t rush,” said resident Judy Tejeda, giving a refresher course on island ways to state Senate candidate Betty Karnette, a Democrat and former assemblywoman who stepped off the boat last week ready to woo voters. “You don’t rush. That is the big thing.”

That sounded good to Karnette, who treated the day as a lark from the rigors of the high-powered, $1-million campaign she is running against Assemblyman Phil Hawkins (R-Bellflower) for the open 27th Senate District seat.

Catalina clearly is the natural wonder in a political district that runs from the Palos Verdes Peninsula through Long Beach and Lakewood and up to Bellflower.

With its unsullied hills, quaint harbor and crystal clear bay waters, Catalina stands in bold relief from the rest of the district, which is marked by industry, crowded freeways and suburban tracts.

On her way out, Karnette’s commuter ship was followed almost into the harbor at Avalon by a large school of dolphins that leaped out of the sea and cavorted, to the delight of everyone aboard.

“How many people can say I have this in my district? It’s like another world,” Karnette said.

Aside from the natural beauty of the place, the lure for candidates is the island’s small population and insular nature. Most of its residents live within the one-square-mile boundaries of Avalon, where they scoot about town on golf carts. The island has about 2,200 registered voters, all but 300 of whom live in Avalon.

“This town is so small you can wake up late and get to work early,” Tim Winslow, a city councilman, tells Karnette. “We have 3,300 people living here. You can probably meet them all in one day.”

Winslow, a former Los Angeles County deputy sheriff who owns a beer and soft drink distributorship, is Karnette’s guide.

Among their stops is a senior center, where they meet the locals, among them Millie Poindexter, 75, the keeper of the island’s secrets and who has a tan most Hollywood types can only dream about.

Poindexter illustrates two things about the island. One is the importance to candidates of having friends who live there. The other is that you will find a character if you look under just about any straw hat on the island.

“You want to know how long I’ve been here?” asked Poindexter, who was helping pass out hot meals to the seniors. “I am writing a book about Avalon, and they are going to pay me not to publish it, that’s how long.”

Poindexter tells Karnette she will vote for her.

Asked why, she pointed to Winslow. “He likes her, so I like her,” Poindexter said. “That is the way it works on this island.”

But as in most things political, the island is split in the Senate election.

While Karnette has Winslow, the mayor, Ralph Morrow, who owns the local cable television station, is supporting Hawkins. Not to be outdone, Morrow, when he saw the success that Karnette was having, quickly arranged a visit to the island by Hawkins.

Catalina could be crucial to Karnette, a career schoolteacher. In 1994, she lost her seat in the Legislature to Assemblyman Steven T. Kuykendall (R-Rancho Palos Verdes) by 597 votes. Kuykendall won Avalon, which tends to vote conservative and Republican, by 37 votes--517 to 480.

Factions for Karnette and Hawkins came together during a luncheon sponsored by the Avalon Rotary Club. Karnette shared the platform with still another candidate, Don Knabe, who is running for county supervisor.

Meanwhile, down by the pier on Front Street, Karnette ran into one of the island’s fixtures--Cap Perkins, a professional diver who said he has lived there for 50 years.

He said Catalina “has changed, but it’s changed less than the rest of the world.” He added: “I don’t feel left out. I like being left out.”

But even that didn’t put a damper on Karnette.

“I love this place,” she said. “And I’m going to come as often as I can.”