Challenger Attacks Baca’s Comments

Attempting to build support for his longshot challenge to Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca, a candidate in that race is accusing Baca of tolerating “groups that threaten the safety of the Los Angeles Jewish community,” a reference to praise by Baca of a Nation of Islam leader.

An angry Baca retorted that his opponent, Sgt. John Stites, is “literally a messenger of hate himself.”

The unusually sharp exchange between the sheriff and his subordinate occurred over comments that Baca made regarding the Nation of Islam. In a recent article in The Times, Baca was quoted as complimenting Tony Muhammad, western regional minister of the Nation of Islam. Baca called Muhammad a “bright, thoughtful and effective leader.”

Stites plans to send hundreds of copies of a campaign release to synagogues and Jewish schools throughout the county today that uses that quote and comments on it. Nation of Islam leaders, including Louis Farrakhan, have been accused of anti-Semitism and racism.

“Sheriff Baca gives praise to those that hate Jews and Christians

Baca, who prides himself on his support from a variety of religious and ethnic groups, took sharp issue with that attack.

“He has chosen to pander to the fears of people rather than deal with the strengths of interfaith harmony,” Baca said Tuesday.

“He’s seeking to proselytize his own loathing into the hearts and minds of the Jewish community. It will fail.”

The candidates, including Sgt. Patrick Gomez, face each other in the election Tuesday.

They all are taking to the airwaves this week, with Baca and Gomez paying for radio ads and Stites appearing in cable television ads on two stations. Baca is spending about $150,000 on radio ads and another $100,000 on slate mailers. Gomez is spending $6,000 on radio ads and Stites is spending $20,000 to buy time on cable television.

Political consultant Parke Skelton, who is running Baca’s reelection effort, said the sheriff is well known and highly regarded across Los Angeles’ ethnic communities.

Baca said he is appearing on a political slate mailer with county Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, who is Jewish. That mailer will target 500,000 Jewish voters.

Andrew Friedman, an attorney and president of Bais Naftoli Synagogue in Hancock Park, said the Jewish community “could not have a better friend than Lee Baca.”

Friedman, among others, is hosting a fund-raiser for the sheriff this weekend in which they expect to raise $25,000.

But Stites said Baca is a fair-weather friend. According to Stites, Baca tells various groups he supports them, even when those groups sometimes are at odds.

Gomez agreed, saying, “Baca’s not the best judge of character.”

But the sheriff and his campaign consultant say the attacks say more about the challengers. “This smacks of extreme desperation, really,” Skelton said.