Bradley Announces Plan to Seek 3rd Mayoral Term

Surprising no one, Mayor Omar Bradley announced officially Thursday that he will seek a third term next spring.

In a statement issued by the Compton city government, Bradley, at 42 the city’s best-known and most polarizing political figure, said he wants to build on improvements in housing, budget and unemployment during his first eight years as mayor.

“There are still a lot of issues we’re in the middle of, such as some large economic development projects,” he said. “I’d like to see them out.” Among those are construction of a movie multiplex and redevelopment of the Long Beach Avenue corridor.

An aide said Bradley had considered running for the Assembly but the mayor has made it clear for weeks that he would seek reelection. Bradley told The Times recently that he would poll 68% of the vote in the mayor’s race next year. But the mayor, who survived a recall petition drive last year, is likely to face a slate of opponents who believe he has gone too far in using city contracts and patronage politics to consolidate his control.

Among the expected challengers are Eric Perrodin, a deputy district attorney whose older brother Percy, a police captain, lost his job after tangling with Bradley.

Another potential contender is Councilwoman Marcine Shaw, a longtime aide to Kenneth Hahn, the late county supervisor. Shaw’s backing comes from public employees unions, which have chafed under the mayor’s determined efforts to privatize some city services and silence some employees. A third challenge could come from former city councilman and stationery store owner Fred Cressel.