CITY COUNCIL ELECTIONS 8TH DISTRICT : Ridley-Thomas, Wright Sharpen Campaign Attacks

As the race for the 8th City Council District winds to an end, a different, more combative style has emerged from Mark Ridley-Thomas and Roderick D. Wright, the candidates in Tuesday’s runoff.

The last-minute mailers are out, fresh signs are planted on lawns, and small armies of volunteers are organized for a final push to get out the vote that will determine the first new city councilman to represent this largely African-American district in 17 years.

Through much of the campaign, the debate has centered on how to provide better city services and on the Rodney G. King beating. But as Election Day has neared, the personal attacks by both candidates have increased.

The most recent mailer by Wright labeled Ridley-Thomas “a clone and handpicked candidate” of retiring City Councilman Robert Farrell, who has been criticized during the campaign for not providing enough city services. Ridley-Thomas, a civil rights leader who was endorsed by Farrell, has promised to be more responsive than Farrell if elected.

Ridley-Thomas has attacked his opponent in a recent mailer outlining Wright’s involvement in an illegal 1985 campaign scheme in a Compton city election. Wright pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge and paid a $2,500 fine. Wright has described the incident as a “technical violation of the law.”

Both sides said that such accusations in last-minute mailers are expected in tough campaigns.

“We have been hitting the streets getting our message out,” said Wright, a political consultant and former aide to Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Los Angeles).

“It has been heated but not hostile,” said Ridley-Thomas, who is executive director of the Los Angeles chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.

Ridley-Thomas’ campaign was hit Friday by criticism from the family of Latasha Harlins, a 15-year-old black girl who was shot to death in March by a Korean-American grocer. Denise Harlins criticized Ridley-Thomas for accepting $3,000 in campaign donations from Korean-American businesses shortly after her niece was killed. “Where was his support for the family on this issue?” asked Harlins.

The teen-ager’s death--which was captured on a security camera and prompted criminal charges against the grocer--prompted an outcry in the African-American community.

“I have assured the family that I will work with them,” said Ridley-Thomas, who met Friday with representatives of the family. “I think this is just a case of the family feeling abandoned by black leaders in the community. I haven’t abandoned them.”

Ridley-Thomas said he has received contributions from Korean-American businesses, but said that is not unusual in a district stretching from Koreatown to Watts.

Last week, ministers got into the election fray, as the Ridley-Thomas campaign released a May 10 letter from the Rev. Thomas Kilgore of Second Baptist Church and several other ministers asking the Rev. Jesse Jackson, a Wright supporter, to stay out of the race. The letter urged Jackson not to allow his “considerable influence, name and photos to be used by our opposition.”

Wright, who worked on Jackson’s presidential campaign, described the letter as an act of desperation. Other ministers also questioned its merits.

“I know it’s allowable, legal and all, but it (the letter) sounds like dirty pool to me,” said the Rev. Cecil Murray of First African Methodist Episcopal Church. “Both candidates should have a fair hearing. . . . Both are worthy candidates and I don’t think either should be hampered.”

Both candidates have scheduled appearances at several churches Sunday, including First AME.

Ridley-Thomas has enjoyed high visibility during the King controversy because his organization has intervened in litigation over the Police Commission’s attempts to put Police Chief Daryl F. Gates on temporary leave. But many feel the race is too close to call.

Voter turnout is considered particularly important in the district, where fewer than 25% of the 80,000 registered voters voted in April.

Wright is considered an adept campaign organizer. When Mayor Tom Bradley’s 1989 mayoral campaign began to falter, he sought help from then-Assemblywoman Waters, who put together a $200,000 campaign to get out the vote in South-Central Los Angeles. Wright organized that voter campaign, helping the mayor avoid a runoff election against Councilman Nate Holden.

Bradley is backing Ridley-Thomas; Waters is backing Wright.

On 97th Street, where both candidates have canvassed heavily, residents say they want more than promises from their new councilman.

“We have problems with homeless people scattering the trash to get bottles and (with) gang members shooting guns late at night,” said Walter Richardson, president of the 97th Street block club. “We need someone to do something.”