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Richardson
Leads 37th Race
The late Millender-McDonald’s
seat to be determined in run-off with Richardson leaps and bounds ahead
By
Allison Jean Eaton
Bulletin
Staff Writer
Assemblywoman
Laura Richardson won the most votes in last Tuesday’s primary
election for the highly contended 37th Congressional seat, trailed
by a popular fellow state senator and the late Rep. Juanita Millender-McDonald’s
daughter.
Richardson secured 37.8 percent of the vote, while state Sen. Jenny
Oropeza walked with 31.3 and Valerie McDonald a far-off 9.4 percent. All
three are Democrats.
In her victory speech that night, Richardson, the daughter of a Teamster
and former Long Beach City Council member, pledged to be a “champion
for the dispossessed.”
“You’re looking at someone who as a little girl knew that the
reason I had shoes on my feet and could go to the dentist was because my
mother
was a union member,” Richardson told several hundred supporters gathered
at Carson’s Home Depot Center on election night.
The top vote-getters from each party will face off in a runoff election
Aug. 21.
Richardson will face Republican leader John Kanaley, who won 7.6
percent; the lone Green Party candidate Daniel A. Brezenoff, 1.2 percent;
and Libertarian Herb Peters, 1.1 percent.
The assemblywoman is considered a shoo-in not only because of her
double-digit lead, but because the district is heavily Democratic.
The race was at times heated as black leaders and politicians tried
to hold on to a congressional seat that has traditionally been held by
an African-American despite a growing Latino population.
Census estimates show between 1990 and 2005 the black population
slipped more than 18 percent to about a quarter of the district, while
the Latino population climbed nearly 26 percent to more than 40 percent.
The district is about 20 percent white, Asians account for about 12 percent
and it also has a significant population of Pacific Islanders.
The large slice of Latinos is somewhat misleading when it comes to
voting, since much of the population is younger than 18 or not registered.
Some feared Richardson and McDonald would split the black vote, handing
the seat to Oropeza. According to Assemblyman Mervyn M. Dymally, who backed
Richardson, the election was less about race and more about special interests.
“Ms. Richardson’s campaign proved that with an outstanding
candidate, good organization, a diverse coalition and labor’s support,
victory is possible,” said Dymally in a statement. “The campaign
was a contest between casino money and labor support.”
The two special interest groups have gone head to head recently over
five tribal compacts that would double the number of slot machines at Indian
casinos. Labor unions are against the move, saying the compacts don’t
protect workers sufficiently.
Oropeza supported the compacts and received strong financial backing — more
than $450,000 — from the tribes, while Richardson secured support
from organized labor.
The late Millender-McDonald died April 21 of colon cancer after representing
the district for 11 years.
Voter turnout for the special election to fill her empty seat came
in at just 11.1 percent.
With Richardson expected to take the seat, some have begun speculating
who will vie for the 55th Assembly seat she is vacating.
Potential candidates include Carson Councilman Mike Gipson, Carson
Mayor Jim Dear and Warren Furatani, who lost the Democratic nomination
to Richardson in last year’s primary.
A special primary election to fill the seat will likely be held in
late October or early November, according to state officials.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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