Waging Battle on the Eastside

With three days to go before election day, the two leading candidates for the Los Angeles City Council’s 14th District sprinted across the Eastside on Saturday trying to shore up their bases of support.

Jose Huizar and Nick Pacheco, both attorneys, have emerged as the leading contenders among the 10 candidates vying to represent the district, which stretches from Boyle Heights to Eagle Rock. Huizar is a member of the board of the Los Angeles Unified School District and Pacheco represented the 14th District on the council between 1999 and 2003, when he lost to Antonio Villaraigosa.

The race has two major plotlines: After losing badly to Villaraigosa two years ago, can Pacheco regain enough votes in the district to win?

And does Villaraigosa have enough political muscle to help get Huizar, whom he has endorsed, elected?

The leading candidate must receive 50% of the vote plus one on Tuesday to win the election outright. Otherwise, a runoff election between the top two finishers will occur on Jan. 31.

“I’m convinced I’m in the lead and I feel I’m close to taking it outright on Tuesday,” said Huizar, who has spent $42,000 on polling. “But it all depends on how effective we are in getting our supporters out to vote.”

Pacheco’s optimism was more guarded.

“I feel really good that I’m still the front-runner,” said Pacheco on Saturday evening during a break from precinct-walking. “Honestly, I’m more inclined to believe we’re in a runoff situation and to me that’s a major, major success.”

Huizar’s day began with a rally at his campaign office in Boyle Heights with three council members -- Tony Cardenas, Eric Garcetti and Ed Reyes. He later joined the mayor for a park dedication in Mount Washington and then spent the afternoon phoning voters along with council President Alex Padilla.

Pacheco started at a community cleanup in Hermon, west of South Pasadena, followed by a get-out-the-vote rally in Eagle Rock. Pacheco also went to the park dedication because it was a project he helped get started during his time in office.

When it came time for the ribbon-cutting, Huizar was included in the ceremony with the mayor, while Pacheco watched a few feet away, his hands in his pockets.

Three other candidates circulated at the park, with their sights set more on Huizar than Pacheco.

Juan “Johnny Jay” Jimenez accused Villaraigosa of scheduling events to help Huizar. And Crystal Arceo, 19, and her family passed out mailers that stated L.A. Unified board members, including Huizar, got posh new bathrooms in 2002 while “students have to run home to relieve themselves.”

Huizar said he’s not surprised the other candidates are gunning for him.

“They see me as the front-runner, so I’m the target,” he said.

In the money race, Huizar has a solid lead.

According to campaign contribution reports on Friday, Huizar has raised $436,625 and has received $100,000 in matching funds from the city. Pacheco has raised $183,017 and received $57,938 in matching funds.

Also, three labor unions have spent more than $124,000 on materials and workers, including precinct workers, to support Huizar.

Three issues have dominated the campaign between Pacheco and Huizar:

* A possible mayoral takeover of L.A. Unified. Pacheco is against it and doesn’t believe city government can run the school district any better.

Huizar has said it’s worth exploring whether board members should be appointed by the mayor.

* A prospective trash fee for homeowners in the city.

There is no formal proposal before the council, but there has been talk in City Hall of instigating a small monthly fee to help cover the $200-million cost of trash pickup each year.

Pacheco is against it, saying a small fee would overburden some residents. Huizar does not rule out supporting a trash fee, though he has not endorsed the idea either.

* Leadership. “When people ask me what the difference is between me and Nick, I say it’s leadership style,” Huizar said. “I’m able to work well with others to get things done. He’s a rock thrower.”

“I am a firm believer that one of the founding principles of this country is the competition of ideas,” Pacheco said.

Who will win?

“My sense is that people know Nick,” said Val Marquez, 54, of Hermon, at the cleanup. “I’ve been to four debates and every time Huizar says Antonio’s name, people boo” because Villaraigosa left the council to become mayor.

Fidel Marquez, 46, an L.A. Unified teacher from Mount Washington, said he will probably vote for Huizar because “he stands out the most.”

Other voters just want the election to be over.

“We’re just sick of elections around here,” said Joe Riser, 47, of Hermon and a Pacheco supporter.

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The candidates

Council District 14

* Crystal Arceo

Age: 19

Job: student; runs family clothing and arts business

www.arceo2005.com

Money raised: $2,410

* Ruby de Vera

Age: 59

Job: office manager for Councilman Ed Reyes

www.rubydevera2005.com

Money raised: $23,625

* Paul Gonzalez

Age: 41

Job: public speaker

Money raised: $2,254

* Brian Heckmann

Age: 50

Job: attorney

www.votebrianheckmann.com

Money raised: $16,702

* Jose Huizar

Age: 37

Job: Los Angeles school board member, attorney

www.huizar4la.comMoney raised: $352,968

* Juan “Johnny Jay” Jimenez

Age: 63

Job: community activist

www.votejimenez4cd14.com

Money raised: $8,600

* Clifford Ramiro Moseley

Age: 38

Job: educator

Money raised: none

* Diana Jill Newberry

Age: 32

Job: meatpacker

Money raised: none

* Nick Pacheco

Age: 41

Job: attorney

www.nickpacheco.com

Money raised: $156,907

* David John Sanchez

Age: 55

Job: teacher and author

Money raised: none

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Local measures

Voters in several Los Angeles County cities will cast ballots Tuesday on a variety of local issues:

* Calabasas

Two advisory ballot measures give residents a chance to weigh in on one of the largest construction projects proposed in the city’s 14-year history.

Measure C asks voters whether the city should annex hundreds of acres to accommodate a multimillion-dollar, 203-unit resort and spa development.

Measure D asks voters to choose whether to approve a law protecting the one-third of the city that remains open space.

* City of Commerce

Measure A would impose a 12% tax on hotel guests to be used for general municipal services. A simple majority is required for approval.

Residents supporting the tax said it would add needed revenue without hurting the hotel business.

No argument was submitted opposing the measure.

* El Monte

Measure M would eliminate the office of elected mayor. Instead, beginning in 2007, each of the five members of the City Council would serve as mayor on a rotating basis.

Supporters say the measure is needed to “take the politics out of the mayor’s office.”

Opponents say the choice of mayor should remain in the hands of the public rather than City Hall.

* Hermosa Beach

Measure E would add the beach to the restricted open space now constituting the city’s greenbelt. The measure would prohibit “new improvements” on the beach.

Supporters say the measure would protect the beach while allowing construction of temporary facilities for activities permitted by the city.

Opponents disagree, saying Measure E is poorly written and would ban more things than intended, including seating for summer concerts and volleyball tournaments.

* Sierra Madre

Measure F would levy a public-safety tax to help fund paramedic services, the purchase of new fire equipment and salary increases for police officers. A two-thirds vote is required for approval.

An impartial analysis by the city attorney’s office says the state has reduced property taxes paid to cities. The result is that Sierra Madre’s volunteer Fire Department does not have money for scheduled replacement of major equipment, and the police are paid at least 15% less than their counterparts in other San Gabriel Valley cities, City Atty. Michael G. Colantuono wrote in his analysis.

But opponents say the proposed tax “is nothing more than an attempt to conceal financial malfeasance and incompetent leadership in Sierra Madre.”

* Signal Hill

Measure H would impose a 3% tax on electrical, gas, water and other utility services to finance construction of a new police station and pay for new police equipment.

A two-thirds vote is required for approval.

In its impartial analysis, the city attorney’s office said the new tax would be expected to add about $12.60 a month to a typical utility bill.

The City Council would determine exemptions for senior citizens and low-income households.

Opponents say the tax would be unfair, hitting residents and small-business owners hard while giving a break to big businesses such as Home Depot.

Los Angeles Times