The Race of the Summer
April 28, 2008
LA Daily News-The top two contenders for a coveted Los County Board of Supervisors seat tore into one another Thursday, each saying he could better represent the sprawling 2nd District from mid-Los Angeles to Carson and each claiming to be the stronger supporter of Sen. Barack Obama.
In one of the opening blows, Los Angeles City Councilman Bernard Parks said he was a true public servant while his opponent, state Sen. Mark Ridley-Thomas, D-Los Angeles, was merely a politician.
“I’ve seen public service rather than political process,” Parks told a crowd of about 250 people at the Westside Jewish Community Center in Los Angeles.
The televised debate was sponsored by the Los Angeles League of Conservation Voters and the League of Women Voters.
Ridley-Thomas questioned Parks’ leadership ability, citing Parks’ former post as chief of the Los Angeles Police Department. He pointed out that he, not the former police chief, has drawn more support from law enforcement officials, including LAPD Chief William Bratton, Parks’ successor.
Ridley-Thomas also accused Parks of blaming other levels of government for problems that he should be trying to resolve himself.
“It is not acceptable for a leader, advocate or one who wants results, to point at other levels of government to fix a problem,” Ridely-Thomas said. “Leadership doesn’t look for excuses.”
Voters will go to the polls on June 3 to choose a replacement for the seat beingvacated by Los Angeles County 2nd District Supervisor Yvonne B. Burke. The district encompasses nine cities and is home to more than 2million residents, many of them African-American.
Parks has defined himself as the pro-business candidate, while Ridley-Thomas - who was a Los Angeles city councilman from 1991 to 2002 - has racked up the support of labor unions.
And both boast lengthy lists of endorsements.
Burke has backed Parks for the spot, as have supervisors Michael D. Antonovich and Gloria Molina and several city council members.
Several state legislators have thrown their support behind Ridley-Thomas, as have LAPD Chief William Bratton and the unions for both LAPD officers and Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies.
Sheriff Lee Baca has endorsed both candidates.
