4 City Council Members Back Holden in Race With Shockley

Locked in a hotly contested runoff election, Los Angeles City Councilman Nate Holden picked up endorsements Friday from county Supervisor Gloria Molina and four colleagues, including council President John Ferraro.

With less than a month before the June 8 runoff election, Holden said the endorsements announced Friday by council members Richard Alatorre, Mike Hernandez, Rudy Svorinich Jr. and Ferraro trump the backing that challenger Madison Shockley has received from four other council members.

“The most senior members, who understand what the process is all about, they are the ones who endorsed me. That’s what really counts,” Holden said at a news conference in front of the Wilshire Division police station.

Holden won 49% of the vote in the 10th District primary, falling fewer than a hundred votes short of avoiding a runoff with Shockley, a minister. The district extends from Mid-Wilshire and the Crenshaw district to Palms in West Los Angeles.

Ferraro and Holden’s other council supporters said that they often clash with him on issues, but that they believe he has done a lot to improve the 10th Council District, including getting streets fixed, trees trimmed and graffiti removed, and therefore deserves another four-year term.

“Nate is a strong supporter of his district, and I admire that,” Ferraro said. “He has a style and agenda that is different than a lot of people, but he is effective, and I stand behind him.”

Added Alatorre, “A lot of people criticize Nate Holden. People who criticize Nate Holden don’t know Nate Holden. They don’t know that he’s willing to take a stand, and he may be the only one taking that stand, but it’s what he thinks is right.”

Hernandez, who last year faced drug charges and rehabilitation, said Holden has provided emotional support for him and has prayed with him.

He also praised Holden’s independence.

“He’s a man willing to stand up to people,” Hernandez said.

Shockley said it is more noteworthy that a sitting council member is being openly opposed for reelection by colleagues, because that is unusual. Shockley already has announced the endorsements of council members Rita Walters, Mike Feuer, Mark Ridley-Thomas and Jackie Goldberg.

“One is supposed to have support of colleagues with whom one has worked for 12 years,” he said of the Holden endorsements. “That’s not newsworthy.”

Shockley said those who have endorsed him represent the more active council members, and he cited Ridley-Thomas’ efforts to get a professional football team for Los Angeles.

In addition, Shockley announced support Friday from attorney Johnnie L. Cochran Jr. and former Councilman David Cunningham.

Holden said that what is at stake in the election is control of the City Council, accusing his colleagues who backed Shockley of planning a grab for the council presidency after the election. Holden said Ridley-Thomas wants that post.

“It’s a power play to dump John Ferraro,” Holden told reporters. “They are going to lose that fight. They are going to lose this one as well.”

Holden volunteered that he promised to back Ferraro for another term as president during the meeting at which Ferraro agreed to endorse him.

Feuer called Holden’s charge of a power grab “unadulterated baloney,” saying he already has told Ferraro he will back him for president again. Goldberg said she also has committed to back the incumbent president.

Ridley-Thomas denied that he has plans to challenge Ferraro in July or that he has asked other council members backing Shockley to support him in a run.

“I’m not running. It is not an issue,” Ridley-Thomas said. “It’s completely fabricated. Nate is trying to shift the focus of attention off his ineffectiveness and the fact that he doesn’t enjoy the support of his colleagues.”

Ridley-Thomas said Holden’s charges add to “a reputation for deceiving his colleagues and his constituents.”

But will the split in the council over the 10th District election hinder the council from working together in the future?

Most said it would not.

“I think it’s a political difference,” Feuer said. “People have individual reasons for who they have endorsed. At the end of the day, whoever is elected will have to work with the whole body, and all of us will need to tackle the city’s problems together.”