Valleys Democrats eye races in 2002

This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press May 9, 2001.

By LISA WAHLA
Valley Press Staff Writer

Democrats haven't fared well in Valley legislative races, but party activists are hoping the November 2002 contest will offer more opportunity, with veteran lawmaker George Runner leaving the Assembly because of term limits and apparently making a bid for the state Senate.

Democrats also are hoping a longer campaign season will help. Two Antelope Valley Democrats announced their candidacy in recent weeks.

Byron Bostic, a Lancaster businessman, and Palmdale Democratic activist Robert Davenport will compete for the party's backing in the March 2002 primary. Neither have run for office, though both are active in local Democratic politics.

Bostic is a steady presence at volunteer events for the Democratic Club of the High Desert, said club President Sandy Corrales. And Davenport made an impact during his years in the Valley, enough to be named "Democrat of the Year" for the Antelope Valley Democratic Club in March.

No Democrat has represented the Valley since Larry Chimbole - the former Palmdale mayor - served two terms in the Assembly. That was when Jerry Brown was governor, from 1974-1978.

"I think it's the smart candidates who are gearing up early enough so they have a shot at the primary and to beat a Republican in November 2002," Corrales said.

Indeed, both men say they are getting the word out at various community events and beginning their fund-raising drives.

Bostic, a 12-year Lancaster resident and digital copier salesman, said he plans to raise money through the typical dinner parties and political action committees. Along with some help from the unions, he'd like to raise between $150,000 and $500,000.

Davenport, who works in television and helps run a local nonprofit for developmentally disabled adults, has his sights set on the million-dollar mark. He said candidates are allowed to raise $400,000 for the primary and $700,000 in the general election, and he hopes the California Democratic Party will assist.

Both men describe themselves as moderate Democrats with conservative sensibilities who can better represent the district in Democrat-dominated Sacramento.

They listed similar concerns on the issues for which they would work - gaining a four-year college for the Valley, improving the freeway system, improving hospital care, building the Lancaster veterans home, improving the AV job base and solving the energy crisis.

That agenda closely parallels the one Runner pushes.

Democrats contend Runner has been too busy representing the Republican Party and not busy enough closing the partisan divide.

"George is a good guy, but I think his party politics has not served us (the district) well," Davenport said. "Someone who is not such a standardbearer for their party could have done more. That put him at odds with the Democrats."

Bostic went further, asserting Runner's conservative Christian beliefs hurt the Antelope Valley's representation in Sacramento.

"He's taken a Baptist world view, a Pat Robertson world view, and we're in a world society now," Bostic said. "Whether he likes it or not, 80% of the world is not white Anglo-Saxon Protestant. He's taken a narrow view of things."

Bostic did not cite specific examples of when Runner's faith kept him from cooperating with the Democratic legislative majority. Runner says he makes a point of working on cooperative ventures with Democrats.

But, Bostic said, the difficulty of getting the Lancaster veterans home built is an example of Runner's Republican status getting in the way. Gov. Gray Davis refused to sign a Runner bill last year to allocate funding for the home, funding voters approved in a bond initiative.

Runner contends Davis got faulty advice about the funding process when he vetoed the bill. He adds that a slow, deliberate methodology by the state's Department of Veterans Affairs is stalling not only the Lancaster home but a home planned for the Democratic area of Saticoy.

The Lancaster Republican, who has announced plans to run for the state Senate, dismisses the notion that his faith harms his constituent work. Runner also questioned the tactic of making religion an issue.

"I've gotten far more bills passed than a lot of Democrats because good policy is good policy," Runner said. "I would guess this man has no idea of my legislative successes, and he probably ought to do his homework."

Runner added, "My values and ideologies are reflective of the district and that's why I got elected, and the thing (Bostic) must understand is that's how this system works."

Bostic and Davenport say it's time for a fresh face in Sacramento from the Antelope Valley, no matter how the district fares on a redistricting map.

Lines for the 36th Assembly District - and all other seats - will be redrawn late this summer with information from the 2000 U.S. Census.

"With Davenport and Bostic, we have two very serious candidates," said Corrales. "They are serious about winning, serious about getting the Democratic message across to the Antelope Valley and they're not afraid of Republican competition."

Corrales said her club would work hard to elect either candidate, and other Democrats have expressed interest in running as well.