Molina Gets 1 Opponent in Election

A community college professor has filed papers to run against Los Angeles County Supervisor Gloria Molina in the March 2002 election.

Friday was the deadline to register for the election in which seats held by Molina and Zev Yaroslavsky are up for election. David Sanchez, who mounted an unsuccessful race for City Council in the spring, was the only person who filed against Molina. Election officials said no one filed to challenge Yaroslavsky. The incumbents have filed their papers.

Last year, the other three supervisors ran unopposed for reelection, marking the first time in decades that there was no competition for the posts.

No elected county supervisor has been defeated at the polls since 1981. Representing districts of nearly 2 million people, the supervisors routinely stockpile up to $1 million in campaign funds and are considered virtually invulnerable to electoral challenges.

The March ballot holds a term-limits initiative that could loosen the incumbents’ grip. The measure would limit county officials to three four-year terms.

Sheriff Lee Baca, who is suing to be exempted from the term limits initiative, is also up for reelection in March. He is being challenged by two sergeants from his department, Patrick Gomez and John Stites.

Baca was elected in 1998 after his opponent, Sherman Block, died before election day. Prior to that, no county sheriff had been defeated at the polls since 1914.