Promises, Applause Mark the Day

Los Angeles mayoral candidates James K. Hahn and Antonio Villaraigosa continued their campaigns Saturday to woo new supporters and reinforce the backing of committed followers.

Under the shade of palm trees on a plaza in front of the Los Angeles Convention Center, more than 100 members of various unions, including firefighters, carpenters and home healthcare workers, gathered early in the morning to affirm their support for the incumbent.

Amid loud applause, cheers and chants of “Four More Years -- Hahn,” the mayor touted crime reduction, construction of houses and encouragement of private investment since he was elected.

“We are doing this all for you working families, and we are proud of the results that we’ve achieved,” he told the crowd.

Representatives of a dozen or so unions needed little encouragement.

“If you’re concerned about a decent living, if you want better housing that’s built by human labor, then I tell you, citizens of Los Angeles, that you must cast your vote for Jim Hahn,” said Tyrone Freeman of Home Healthcare Workers Union Local 434B, one of several speakers.

Later in the day, Villaraigosa took part in a colorful parade marking the 75th anniversary of the Olvera Street marketplace at El Pueblo de Los Angeles, where the city was founded more than two centuries ago.

Riding in an open-top maroon 1950s-era Chevrolet Deluxe, Villaraigosa stopped every few yards to shake hands with bystanders.

The candidate said he was continuing to spread “a message of hope, a message that L.A. is a great place ... but a place that can do better.”

The councilman said he would not allow results of a recent Times poll, which showed him 18 points ahead of Hahn, to make him complacent.

“I’m one of those people who believes that the only poll that matters is the one on election day. So I’m going to run like I’m 20 or 30 points down,” he said.

Anna Gomez, 52, a homemaker, said she hoped that if he was elected, Villaraigosa would work hard for the Latino community, promoting higher education and creating jobs.

“I think he’s going to work for the Spanish-speaking people,” she said.

“He’s part of us.”