Candidates Take to the Streets as Pace Quickens

With nine days left before Los Angeles elects its next mayor, the two candidates quickened their pace Saturday, taking their campaigns to the streets as they try to lock down votes in their energetic contest to run the city.

His voice raspy from long days of campaigning, former Assembly Speaker Antonio Villaraigosa was upbeat as he visited two community centers in Los Angeles and then announced an initiative to create 100 parks.

Meanwhile, an almost giddy James K. Hahn hopped up and down at a morning rally as an R&B; band pumped up a crowd of precinct walkers. The city attorney sounded a populist tone, telling cheering supporters he would put City Hall “in the hands of the people.”

Hahn also kept up the pressure on Villaraigosa, saying that the former legislator backed a “worthless, toothless” racial profiling bill. And he repeated his criticism of Villaraigosa’s recent comment that he sends his children to private school because he doesn’t want to sacrifice them.

“I think that’s an insult to all the great public school teachers of this city, and I think it’s an insult to all the people who believe in public schools,” Hahn said.

Sounding exasperated, Villaraigosa, who works as a consultant to the state teachers union, emphasized that he was not bringing up his opponent as he campaigned around the city. “Mr. Hahn spends more time criticizing me than saying what he proposes to do for the city,” he said.

“I worked for schoolteachers here in L.A. for eight years,” he added. “I’ve been honored to serve them. My wife’s a public school teacher, and that’s why I’ve committed to making schools my No. 1 concern.”

Villaraigosa was clearly buoyed by The Times’ endorsement, announced today, which follows on the heels of his endorsement from City Councilman Joel Wachs, the only mayoral candidate from the primary election who has backed one of the finalists.

Villaraigosa hopes that Wachs, who ran well with moderates and conservatives and commands a loyal following in the San Fernando Valley, can help him secure the support of those swing voters.

Addressing Ethnic Issues

“[Mayor Richard] Riordan endorsed me, Joel Wachs endorsed me yesterday and when you pick up the paper tomorrow, you’ll see The Times is supporting me too,” a beaming Villaraigosa told about 200 people at the Filipino American Community Center in downtown Los Angeles.

Throngs of Filipino supporters surrounded Villaraigosa when he arrived at the center, throwing a garland of red carnations around his neck as he stepped out of his car. A dozen middle-aged women dressed in blue and calling themselves “Villaraigosa’s Blue Ladies,” tittered and stumbled over a cheer when they caught sight of the candidate.

“Blue means hope,” said lead blue lady and former teacher Olive Guerrero. “He is a responsible man, he is amiable, and he is for the rich and the poor. . . . Antonio is claimed by the ethnic community because he is ethnic.”

Inside the small white building, World War II veterans and other supporters gave Villaraigosa a roaring standing ovation, waving signs and snapping pictures as he walked in.

The former assemblyman said he was committed to helping immigrants and ethnic minorities advance. “This city is standing on the threshold of greatness because [immigrants] come here,” he said.

Later, at Stoner Park in West Los Angeles, Villaraigosa said he would continue Riordan’s program of refurbishing one dilapidated park every two weeks. Standing before an empty swimming pool, he also vowed to create 100 pocket parks throughout the city with sports fields, picnic tables and dog runs.

“Los Angeles wants to come together to connect,” he told about 30 people gathered for his announcement. “I think parks are a great way to link it all together.”

Meanwhile, Hahn started his morning greeting precinct walkers in the Mid-City area, bounding out of his car to greet about 75 supporters chanting “Go, Jim, Go!” while a band belted out “Ain’t No Stopping Us Now.”

Hahn Uses a Populist Approach

“This is the fun part,” said the city attorney, who ran to the cheering crowd and hopped up and down on his toes, thrusting his fists in the air. As the band played, he danced his way through the audience, slapping some high-fives and greeting some with hugs.

U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Los Angeles) introduced Hahn, telling the mostly African American audience that he is “someone who’s been there for us.”

“We want someone who will not sell us out,” she said. “The only person we can trust is someone who’s been our friend.”

Hahn struck a strongly populist tone, alluding to Villaraigosa’s support from the Democratic Party and wealthy Los Angeles business leaders Ron Burkle and Eli Broad.

“This campaign is about whether or not we’re going to let the party bosses and the billionaires control City Hall,” he said.

The city attorney called his father, the late county Supervisor Kenneth Hahn, “the greatest politician, I think, in the history of this city.” And he said the popular supervisor “told me over and over what public service is about--it’s about fighting for the little people.”

He insisted he wouldn’t stop talking about his father, even though Villaraigosa has implied he’s trying to run on Kenneth Hahn’s name.

“I’m proud of my dad!” Hahn declared. “I’m not going to shut up about him.”

The audience cheered loudly.

Later, Hahn, Waters and Councilman Nate Holden knocked on doors on a carefully manicured street in Wilshire Vista--but almost everyone they encountered was already a solid Hahn voter.

“Oh, you’re the one I’m voting for!” said 92-year-old Betty Rudberg, when he showed up at her door on South Genesee Drive. “Oh, and you’re handsome, too!”