Democrats Reflect a New Face of San Gabriel Valley

Locked in a bitter fight to win the Democratic Party nomination in the 29th state Senate District, candidates Richard Melendez and Steve Herfert reflect a new wave of grass-roots politics stretching across a swath of east Los Angeles County from Sierra Madre to La Mirada.

Both serve on the City Council in West Covina, a diverse city that reflects the changing demographics of the San Gabriel Valley. Both candidates promote such middle-class suburban goals as improving schools, lowering crime, cutting traffic, beefing up health care and cleaning up the environment.

There’s something else Melendez and Herfert have in common: They both used to be Republicans.

Their separate decisions to become Democrats reflect a larger trend in the 29th District. The elbow-shaped district of tract homes and mini-malls overwhelmingly supported former President Ronald Reagan during the 1980s, but its traditionally Republican majority has been diluted by newer voters who are largely Latino and Democrat.

The district is a key battleground, and is split between the two parties--each with about 41% of the 375,000 voters living there.

The retirement of Sen. Richard Mountjoy (R-Arcadia) due to term limits gives Democrats their first real chance of claiming the seat, said GOP consultant Allan Hoffenblum. “The district may still tilt Republican,” he said, “but it can no longer be considered safe.”

With that in mind, Melendez and Herfert are elbowing each other for the chance to run against Assemblyman Bob Margett (R-Arcadia), who is unopposed in the GOP primary.

Melendez and Herfert are conservative Democrats, though Melendez leans a bit more to the right. He is a Los Angeles police officer who converted to the Republican Party for 18 months during the mid-1990s. His support of abortion laws and programs for at-risk youths, he said, eventually led him back.

Herfert is a 10-year veteran of the West Covina council who was raised Republican but has been tilting left ever since. Aggressive on toxic environmental problems, he joined the Democratic Party three years ago.

Their middle-of-the-road approach to government meshes well with a district that is predominantly white, 20% Latino, 8% Asian American and 6% African American.

As the primary approaches, there is no clear front-runner.

Herfert, 44, received the state party’s endorsement and enjoys greater grass-roots support. An army of party volunteers has given a campaign advantage to the plain-spoken technician for Southern California Edison.

But Melendez, 45, has raised more money, $131,000, than Herfert’s $71,000. Melendez also has secured more endorsements, including state Senate Majority Leader Richard Polanco (D-Los Angeles.)

That distinction stands to help Melendez among Latino voters. His largest contribution--$33,000--comes from the California Friends Latino PAC, run by Assemblyman Marco A. Firebaugh (D-Los Angeles), a former Polanco aide.

But the third-year council member has been accused of pressuring former West Covina City Atty. Elizabeth Martyn for contributions.

Martyn said in a written declaration--signed days before the council was planning to fire her for incompetence last month--that she donated $2,000 to the Melendez campaign in exchange for his promise to help her keep the job. According to Martyn, who resigned before the council vote, Melendez said he needed to raise $100,000 for his campaign to prove he was a credible candidate.

Melendez calls the allegations false and absurd. But when asked about the allegation earlier this week, he said he planned to return Martyn’s contribution.

Herfert is using the allegations to characterize Melendez as a political opportunist.

“There are a lot of people in West Covina walking around with knives in their back because of Richard Melendez,” said Herfert. Melendez supporters say Herfert bullies city employees and residents who disagree with him. Herfert denies the allegation.

The race between colleagues “hasn’t made for a good situation on the City Council,” said West Covina Mayor Kathy Howard, a Republican. “I don’t think either one of them has a chance. Bob Margett is very popular in the district.”

The Democrats are trying to connect with voters outside West Covina, which is a big job. The district encompasses million-dollar neighborhoods at the edge of the San Gabriel Mountains and pockets of racial tension and poverty near Pomona. It stretches from Arcadia east to Claremont and south to La Mirada.

Whoever wins the November election will inherit the controversy over a police shooting last year of a black motorist in Claremont, as well as some of the worst ground water contamination and freeway traffic in the country.

Herfert’s campaign has pushed raises for public school teachers and an initiative that would make it easier for working families to renew long-term medical prescriptions without a visit to the doctor.

Melendez proposes child care tax credits for businesses and families. He also supports mandatory child safety locks on guns.

His biggest challenge is persuading conservative non-Latino voters that he is not an ethnic candidate. “The support I receive is based on where I stand on the issues,” he said.