Roybal Endorses Alatorre for L.A. Council Seat

Local political powers began lining up behind Assemblyman Richard Alatorre (D-Los Angeles) Monday in his campaign for the Eastside seat on the Los Angeles City Council.

Alatorre secured the endorsement of U.S. Rep. Edward Roybal (D-Los Angeles), the last Latino to have served on the council. He also has the promise of an endorsement, scheduled to be forthcoming today, from Mayor Tom Bradley.

Roybal’s endorsement came several hours before the first debate by five of the seven candidates for the vacant seat. Other debates had been held in the community before, but Alatorre had refused to participate. He changed his mind over the weekend and agreed Monday to take part in an evening debate sponsored by the Mexican American Political Assn.

Alatorre, along with five other Latino candidates, is seeking to become the first Latino member since Roybal left the City Council in 1962 when he was elected to Congress. The six Latinos and one Anglo woman are candidates to replace former Councilman Arthur K. Snyder in a special election Dec. 10. Snyder resigned last month after 18 years on the council. He said he wanted to devote full time to his private law practice.

Roybal threw his support behind Alatorre, saying at a press conference that “he can do that job better than anyone else I know.”

Bradley was set to endorse Alatorre today at a press conference at a senior citizens center in Montecito Heights. Bradley aides have said the mayor hopes to strengthen ties to the Latino community. Alatorre, a 13-year incumbent assemblyman, is an influential Latino official who could be helpful to the mayor if Bradley runs again for governor next year as expected.

Roybal’s status as the last Latino to hold a City Council seat was not the only reason his endorsement was significant. Alatorre in the past made no secret of his ambition to eventually seek Roybal’s seat in Congress, and his talk of that while Roybal was still in office had annoyed some close to the congressman. Some Alatorre supporters have said that they hope Alatorre, if elected to the council, will go on to run for mayor or Roybal’s seat.

But Roybal said Monday that he will not decide when to retire “until the year 2000.” Whether he someday endorses Alatorre to succeed him, he said, “depends on how Alatorre does as a member of the City Council.”

At the debate, all five candidates invited by MAPA--Alatorre, Gilbert Avila, Antonio Rodriguez, Steve Rodriguez and Ross Valencia--all said they support the city’s participation in the sanctuary movement to give shelter to Central American refugees.

The audience, composed mainly of anti-Alatorre forces, hissed at some of Alatorre’s answers. He was repeatedly asked about heavy campaign contributions and money he has spent in pursuit of the 14th District seat.

“If you look at my record . . . I have been accountable year in and year out. I have stood for election and you have returned me.”