Democratic candidate for LA mayor lauds AV faithful

This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press March 5, 2001.

By JOANNA PARSONS
Valley Press Staff Writer

PALMDALE - Los Angeles mayoral candidate Antonio R. Villaraigosa lauded the party faithful during the installation banquet of the Democratic Club of the High Desert on Sunday morning.

Villaraigosa told the room of 150 attentive listeners that "there are few places in the world as diverse as this room and as diverse as our party."

He also spoke briefly about such issues as public schooling, a woman's right to choose, equal rights and the importance of the working class.

"We come together as Democrats not because we think we are always right on every issue," he continued. "It's important for us to have the battle of ideas. It's important for us to engage in our competing visions of America."

Villaraigosa also helped swear in officers of the Democratic Club of the High Desert.

Villaraigosa installed Sandy Corrales as the club's new president, Lynda von Husen as first vice president, Camille Dunn as second vice president, Michele Chavez as secretary and Mary Suarez as treasurer.

Club members honored outgoing president Robert Alvarado for his 3 1/2 years of service.

"Sandy is willing and ready to take charge of the organization," said Alvarado, who thanked club and audience members for their support during his presidency.

Alvarado was also recognized by the cities of Lancaster and Palmdale and and such groups as the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

One of the club's goals is increased memberships.

"Under Robert's years as president, our membership rolls swelled, as well as our bank account," Corrales said. "So we're able to do more activities, and we became better focused, more disciplined as a political force."

Democrats outnumbered Republicans in Palmdale by about 800 in 2000. During the presidential elections, Al Gore won in Palmdale by 2% in November. Still, the Antelope Valley as a whole has more Republicans.

"Now our goal is obviously the rest of the Antelope Valley," Corrales said. "We want to make sure that we continue to bring state and national Democratic leaders to the Valley, and with them, their support and resources."

Villaraigosa is one of six candidates who are vying to replace L.A. Mayor Richard Riordan in an election less than six weeks away.

While Villaraigosa, a former Assembly speaker, has support from 12% of those surveyed in a recent poll by a Los Angeles newspaper, City Attorney James K. Hahn has a solid lead.

However, nearly one-quarter of voters said they have not picked a candidate; among those who have, more than two in five said they might change their minds.

Other candidates are Los Angeles City Councilman Joel Wachs, U.S. Rep. Xavier Becerra, estate broker Steve Soboroff and state Controller Kathleen Connell.

According to the poll, Hahn's core support is in the African-American community, where he is favored by 58% of likely voters. It also found that many voters were supporting Hahn because of his father.

"To be honest, I don't know what his relation is to the late county Supervisor Kenneth Hahn, but he was great and I just associate that name with good people," said Essie Hall, 57, who participated in the poll survey.

The poll surveyed 532 likely voters from Feb. 24 through March 1. It has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus four percentage points.