Villaraigosa Poised to Win Assembly Seat : Politics: Victory by longtime community activist in primary virtually assures him of election in the heavily Democratic 45th District. Incumbents breeze past challengers.

After winning a bitter primary campaign for a Northeast Assembly district, Democrat Antonio Villaraigosa is poised to move on to Sacramento after November’s general election.

The longtime community activist fended off a last-minute negative mailing attack to win the Democratic nomination in the 45th Assembly District in the most closely watched primary in Central Los Angeles last week.

“I think this victory was a reflection of the broad coalition of voters across racial and ethnic lines and a real return to grass-roots organizing,” Villaraigosa said. “That was the margin of victory here.”

Incumbents breezed to victory in Tuesday’s area congressional and legislative races, and the son of a veteran legislator won a close race for an open seat in a Southwest 47th Assembly District. In a vacant seat in the 22nd state Senate District, an underfunded and relatively unknown candidate making her first run for public office captured nearly 41% of the vote against a veteran legislator.

In the 45th District, Villaraigosa collected 49.6% of the vote to Bill Mabie’s 33.3%. Villaraigosa will face Republican Robert K. Jung and Libertarian Pam Probst in the November general election. He is virtually assured of victory because Democrats make up 62% of the district’s voters.

Political analysts say that Mabie, who entered the race late, was unable to overcome Villaraigosa’s name recognition, 2-to-1 fund-raising advantage and well-oiled campaign apparatus.

Villaraigosa, 41, who was born and raised in the area, stressed his 25 years of community work ranging from union activism to voter registration. His campaign had attracted dozens of area activists whose skills were honed in movements such as the successful effort to legalize street vending in Los Angeles and unionize janitors in local hotels.

Mabie, 32, is chief of staff for Assemblyman Richard Polanco (D-Los Angeles), who is vacating the 45th District seat to run for the opening in the 22nd Senate Distict. A one-time registered Republican, Mabie touted his community work and knowledge of the legislative process.

The district stretches from Highland Park to Boyle Heights, including Mount Washington, Silver Lake, Echo Park and parts of Hollywood. Latinos make up 63% of the district’s 370,000 residents but only 36% of its 83,311 registered voters.

The area has been the site of a decade of bitter contests between candidates representing a group headed by county Supervisor Gloria Molina and a competing faction headed by Polanco and Los Angeles City Councilman Richard Alatorre. This year’s race was no exception.

Villaraigosa, backed by Molina, had accused Mabie and Polanco of maliciously spreading rumors that he was arrested in 1977 for a felony assault stemming from an attack by a man against his mother during a melee at a local restaurant.

Villaraigosa was initially arrested on a felony assault in that case, according to Los Angeles police records obtained by The Times. However, he was tried on a misdemeanor assault charge and was not convicted.

In the final days before the primary, the Villaraigosa camp accused Mabie of sending mailers quoting out-of-context information about his arrest record that was published in a Times article. The consultant who designed the mailer, Richard Ross, defended it as fair comment.

The election also had taken on racial overtones, with some Latino politicians upset that Polanco had endorsed Mabie, who is white, for a seat that has been held by Latinos since 1972. Polanco, who sent out a last-minute mailer urging the district’s Latino voters to support Mabie, responded that he was merely backing the candidate he viewed as best suited for the job.

In the 47th Assembly District, attorney Kevin Murray won a tight battle in the Democratic primary. Murray, the son of veteran Assemblyman Willard W. Murray Jr. (D-Paramount), captured 21.2% of the vote. Congressional aide Ed Johnson and teacher and union activist Jimmie Woods Gray both had 16.9%. Attorney Geoff Gibbs followed with 16.4%.

Nine Democrats sought the seat being vacated by Assemblywoman Gwen Moore (D-Los Angeles), who lost her bid for secretary of state.

The heavily Democratic district was drawn to favor the election of an African American. It stretches from Mid-City through Baldwin Hills and Ladera Heights. In the GOP primary, businessman Jonathan Leonard got 57.2% of the vote to beat attorney Kathleen L. Brundo.

In the 22nd Senate District, former legislative aide Yolanda Gonzalez made a strong showing against a well-financed Polanco. She captured 40.6% of the vote to Polanco’s 59.4%.

Polanco had raised $172,949 to Gonzalez’s $20,000. Much of the area includes Polanco’s current Assembly district, which he has represented since 1986. The district stretches from Highland Park through Echo Park and Silver Lake to South-Central, including parts of the Eastside, Mid-City and Hollywood.

Some political consultants said Gonzalez’s strong performance showed that a number of voters were dissatisfied with Polanco and signals that he should be vulnerable in the future.

“I think that’s a major warning shot across Richard Polanco’s bow,” said consultant Parke Skelton, who has backed candidates opposed by Polanco.

Polanco did not return calls for comment.

Republican Ron T. Lee was unopposed in his primary, as was Libertarian Vincent Way and Peace and Freedom candidate Pearl Wolff.

Other local matchups in the November general election are:

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30th Congressional District: Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-Los Angeles) will face Republican David A. Ramirez in the general election.

31st Congressional District: Rep. Matthew G. Martinez (D-Monterey Park) faces Republican John V. Flores.

32nd Congressional District: Rep. Julian C. Dixon (D-Los Angeles) will face Republican Ernie A. Farhat.

33rd Congressional District: Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-Los Angeles) will face Republican Ruben Murillo.

35th Congressional District: Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Los Angeles) will face Republican Nate Truman.

37th Congressional District: Rep. Walter R. Tucker III (D-Compton) will face Libertarian Guy Wilson.

26th State Senate District: Sen. Diane E. Watson (D-Los Angeles) will face Republican Joe Piechowski, Peace and Freedom candidate Yassin A. Saededdin and Libertarian Bob Weber.

30th State Senate District: Sen. Charles M. Calderon (D-Whittier) will face Republican Ken Gow.

46th Assembly District: Assemblyman Louis Caldera (D-Los Angeles) will face Republican Yongchul Yang and Peace and Freedom candidate William R. Williams.

48th Assembly District: Assemblywoman Marguerite Archie-Hudson (D-Los Angeles) is unopposed.

50th Assembly District: Assemblywoman Martha M. Escutia (D-Huntington Park) will face Republican Gladys O. Miller and Peace and Freedom candidate Alma B. Strowiss.