City
Leaders Offer Different Views of Deactivated Program
Compton Awarded 2.4 Million
For Water Improvements
New Novel Reimagines Huck Finn from Slave’s Perspective
Company Finds Success With Kettle Fried Chips in Low-Carb Era
Former Linebacker Haslett Says He Used Steroids as NFL Player
Dollarhide Hosts Candidates Forum
Ex-Mayor Bradley is prevented from addressing panel.
By
Gary Walker
Bulletin staff writer
The Commission on Aging, one of several community groups who have
sponsored events for candidates for office, took their turn last
Thursday when they hosted the incumbents and challengers for mayor,
treasurer and city clerk at the Dollarhide Senior Center.
“This is going to be one of the most important elections that
this city has ever had,” predicted Benjamin Holifield, a Compton
resident for more than 50 years and a candidate for mayor. “It’s
time for new leadership, for someone who can help our diverse population
together.”
The incumbents in the race, Mayor Eric J. Perrodin, City Clerk Alita
Godwin and Treasurer Douglas Sanders all touched on their experience
in office or, in the mayor’s case, the progress he says the
city had make since taking office.
The candidates for mayor, among them Perrodin, Holifield, Cecil Rhambo,
Fred Shaw and Leo Turner have certain similarities: Perrodin is a
deputy district attorney and a former Compton police sergeant; Rhambo
is a newly promoted commander with the Compton Sheriff’s Department
and Shaw worked with the sheriffs in Lynwood. Most are long-time
Compton residents and boast of community activism. But there were
also differences.
Perrodin described a city that was in disarray when he took over
as mayor, with a bloated payroll and an uphill battle in front of
him to convince developers and businesses that Compton was not the
city of gangbangers and criminals that many believed it to be. “Our
reputation around the United States was at its lowest,” he
proclaimed. “We had to clean up the mess before we could get
the city moving.
“And Compton is on the move,” Perrodin added. He cited
new developments in the pipeline, including the Compton Auto Plaza,
which is now known
as the Gateway Plaza project. That development is currently on hold
due to two lawsuits against the project.
“I will bring trust and accountability to the mayor’s
office,” said
Rhambo, a first-time candidate. “A mayor should lead ethically
and create a vision that people are willing to follow.”
Holifield told the seniors that he wanted to make Compton an “All-American
city.
“We need to be more diverse and more inclusive so that the
total population is represented,” he preached. One way was
to increase the number of council districts, which he said was mandated
by the city charter
when the population reaches 100,000. That number has been disputed
by others, and the Bulletin was not able to confirm the correct figure.
Shaw, the son of former Compton Councilwoman Marcine Shaw, focused
on having a different vision for the city, including more after school
programs for Compton’s youth. “To quote my daughter,
vision with out action is hallucination,” he said, undoubtedly
the afternoon’s best line as the audience murmured their approval.
The majority of the challengers sought to accent their educational
and professional qualifications, and some, like Holifield, highlighted
his community work as a contrast to the incumbents’ time in
office.
Delorise Anderson, who is running for the city treasurer’s
seat, told the audience that she wanted to make “prosperity
in Compton a reality.” She highlighted her experience in banking
and finance, and her educational background which includes a Master’s
degree and can honorary doctorate. “Just as the current treasurer
was new at one time, we can have a new city treasurer,” she
said confidently.
“We need someone in office who is willing to make better investments,” said
Carol Bradley-Jordan, the sister of former Mayor Omar Bradley, another
candidate for Sanders’ job. Bradley-Jordan, a former teacher,
currently is a budget administrator for the Los Angeles Unified School
District. “Currently, we are only making 1% on our investments,” she
claimed. “People are bragging about this... I don’t think
that this is something to brag about.”
Bradley Jordan said the next treasurer needs to be someone who “thinks
outside the box.”
“Experience and banking and finance are fine, but the job of
treasurer is public cash management,” countered Sanders. “There
are specific guidelines that the treasurer has to follow, a specific
scope... I follow the law.
“When you elected me twelve years ago, you gave me your trust,” he
concluded. “I will guard your city finances.”
The race for city clerk pits Godwin against Satra Zurita, two municipal
employees with a wealth of experience at City Hall. Godwin extolled
her of knowledge the city charter, various ordinances that govern
public employees, helping to conduct municipal elections, maintaining
the city’s vast collection of records and her 22 years in the
same office. “I believe that I am the best qualified candidate
for city clerk because I have confidence in myself... I have integrity,” she
told the audience.
Zurita, a senior management analyst in the public works department,
said that she wanted to be “an advocate for all citizens of
Compton... children, adults and seniors.”
The challenger wants to make the city’s website more interactive,
with historical information. “I want all citizens to know that
every vote will count, so that people will be eager and energetic
about voting again. I want to restore integrity to the city clerk’s
office,” she added.
The 2001 election was marred by accusations of voter fraud. Godwin
was the deputy city clerk at the time, and was not responsible of
conducting that election.
No Bashing Allowed
The crowd of mostly senior citizens was eager to get to the Q& A
period of the forum, and peppered the candidates with pointed questions.
Many in the audience praised the current council, telling Perrodin
that he had done a great job.
Tension arose when Bradley, the ex-Compton mayor who was in the audience,
asked to address the candidates.
Bradley, who lost a bitter contest to Perrodin in 2001, grew testy
when the current mayor accused his administration of setting Compton
back and leaving the city in disarray. Bradley sought to ask Rhambo
a question regarding a $2 million asset forfeiture that Perrodin
mentioned, but was cut off by the panel moderator, Jackie Fisher
of the Dollarhide. “There’s no bashing,” she admonished
as she took the microphone from the ex-mayor, who appeared confused
at Fisher’s reaction. Other questions from audience members
that in Fisher’s view were deemed inappropriate were subsequently
disallowed.
Afterward, several candidates and observers who witnessed the forum
complained about the panel’s guidelines, which they felt were
unfair to some candidates. “This is a democracy,” shouted
one man who chose to remain anonymous. “Why couldn’t
we ask the questions that we wanted to ask?”
There will be three more opportunities to see the candidates for
public office in person before Election Day. Residents may inquire
at the city clerk’s office for the times and locations, or
contact the Bulletin.
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