Mayoral Rivals Stress Turnout

James K. Hahn and Antonio Villaraigosa crisscrossed Los Angeles on Sunday in a colorful final election swing aimed at reminding church parishioners, shoppers, union members and others to turn out for Tuesday’s election, when the city will vote for a chief executive for the first time in the 21st century.

City Atty. Hahn swept through seven churches in South Los Angeles with many friends and supporters in tow. His wife, Monica, made a rare appearance on the campaign trail, as did basketball superstar and entrepreneur Magic Johnson, Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Los Angeles), Councilmen Nate Holden and Alex Padilla and County Supervisor Yvonne Brathwaite Burke.

The city attorney was warmly greeted by the singing, swaying throngs of worshipers from the Faithful Central Bible Church at the Forum to the First Zion AME Church in South Los Angeles to the Church of the Harvest at the Palladium in Hollywood.

An energetic Villaraigosa, a former speaker of the state Assembly, barnstormed in similar territory Sunday, eagerly glad-handing every voter he could find and telling them his “campaign of hope” will triumph on election day.

By early afternoon, he had spoken to congregants at two African American churches, met voters at the Hollywood Farmers Market and rallied precinct walkers in the San Fernando Valley.

Later, he stopped at a fund-raiser at The Conga Room, a Miracle Mile salsa club, where more than 200 Latinas and other supporters were honoring his wife, Corina. At every stop, Villaraigosa urged supporters to call five more friends and ask them to take the day off Tuesday to help get voters to the polls.

“We are on the threshold of making a statement that is going to be heard across the city, across the country and across the world,” the former legislator told about 500 cheering union members packed in a San Fernando union hall.

“We have got to work day and night until election day to say to people, this election does matter, because we are going to have an opportunity to show a different way for Los Angeles.”

Hahn appeared equally upbeat and confident, attempting mostly to focus on his plans for the city and to remain above the fray. He tried to steer questions away from his controversial television ad linking Villaraigosa to a convicted cocaine trafficker. He did, however, call on his opponent to stop the “constant carping” over “unfair tactics” and urged him to focus on the city and his vision for it.

“I hope these last few days we can talk about what our visions are,” Hahn said, moments before boarding his chartered black-and-purple bus.

His campaign consultant, Kam Kuwata, said these last hours are aimed more at ensuring that people turn out to the polls rather than convincing undecided voters.

“I think people’s minds have been made up,” Kuwata said. “I think it’s more about deciding whether they’re going to turn out to vote.”

Weaving his way through the city in their bus, Hahn and his supporters touched down into scene after scene of ebullience. Hahn is a longtime fixture on the black church circuit, having campaigned heavily there in the current race and having spent much time there growing up in the shadow of his father, former Los Angeles County Supervisor Kenneth Hahn.

On this Sunday, the last before city election day, the younger Hahn spoke about his father and the lessons he learned about public service. He said the greatest lesson was one he observed.

“He always cared about people,” Hahn said. “I learned that and my sister, Janice, learned that.”

Hahn received the loudest applause and cheers whenever he spoke about his efforts to expand after-school programs and end racial profiling in the Los Angeles Police Department, as well as when he reflected on his roots in South Los Angeles.

“I want every community to be as good as we can make it,” Hahn said at the First AME Zion Church on Adams Boulevard. “I believe if we work together, there is no problem we can’t solve.”

Johnson, the athlete and beloved local hero, said that Hahn has been a supporter of his businesses--including the Magic Johnson theaters and other enterprises--and that the city attorney is a solid, strong candidate for mayor. Hahn, Johnson said, talks about “the real issues” and he understands the needs of the city.

“The record speaks for itself,” Johnson said. “The other candidate just doesn’t stand up to that record. No way.”

Villaraigosa, who has kept up a breakneck pace through much of the campaign, showed the signs of the long and arduous effort Sunday as he ran through one of the many union crowds that have welcomed his candidacy. At one, he embraced union members as the song “Ain’t No Stopping Us Now” pulsated through the room.

Jumping on stage and facing the excited crowd, Villaraigosa appeared momentarily overcome with emotion. He lowered his head and collected himself before addressing the room as people whistled and chanted “An-to-nio!”

“I got that sense of emotion,” he said after a few moments, “because I know that this campaign is not about me. The energy in the room, the hope in the room . . . is about us. It’s about a city that comes together, a city that prospers together.”

Villaraigosa turned what was planned as a quick appearance at the Hollywood Farmers Market into an hour-plus conversation with voters, pumping hands and sampling produce as he urged shoppers to go to the polls. Many clustered around him, reaching their hands through the crowd to shake his.

“Thank you for staying out of the Hahn ad sewer,” one man said.

“See, see!” Villaraigosa said excitedly to a reporter nearby. “They know the difference.”