WATTS : New Battleground in Council Race

Watts has become a pivotal battleground in the spirited June 8 runoff between incumbent City Councilwoman Joan Milke Flores and challenger Rudy Svorinich Jr.

The two candidates--both Republicans--are looking to broaden their support from their mutual San Pedro base in the 15th District, and both have targeted Watts as part of that effort.

Each has gone door to door in the community, and each is touting endorsements from unlikely allies.

Flores recently scored a coup when she was backed by former political adversary Janice Hahn, whose third-place finish in the April primary was fueled in large part by her strong showing in Watts.

Hahn, who is also from San Pedro, offered her nod toward Flores at a news conference at the Cultural Crescent College Prep house, a Watts community center founded by activist “Sweet Alice” Harris. As Harris wrapped her arms around them both, Hahn said she was willing to telephone voters and go door to door for Flores.

While Flores, a 12-year council member, gladly accepted the offer, she focused as much on what linking the Hahn name to her campaign could mean in the runoff. Hahn’s father, former county Supervisor Kenneth Hahn, served a record 40 years on the board, and in Watts is touted as the personification of responsive government.

“There is no question that Joan has a much better chance of fighting for this district than Rudy,” said Hahn, who had accused Flores during the primary of neglecting the district, often singling out Watts as an example of a community whose needs had gone unmet. “She has tenure. She has knowledge. She has experience. And I don’t believe in change just for the sake of change. I think that you need to know what you are getting with change.”

Svorinich sought to portray Hahn’s endorsement as a payoff. He claimed that Hahn had told him Flores agreed to pay off Hahn’s $10,000 debt from the primary campaign in exchange for her support.

That charge was flatly denied by both Hahn and Flores.

Flores said: “I promised Janice nothing and Rudy is obviously a liar. . . . He is very disappointed about this endorsement and he will do anything to counteract it.”

The Flores campaign also has been trumpeting endorsements by Supervisors Yvonne Braithwaite Burke and Gloria Molina, both prominent Democrats.

Meanwhile, Svorinich has countered with the surprise endorsement of Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Los Angeles), who is seen by many as the city’s most influential African-American politician.

“Maxine Waters’ endorsement absolutely means 25% to 30% of the African-American vote just with mail” calling attention to it, political consultant Rick Taylor said. “I think her endorsement can level the playing field.”

Svorinich clearly needs a boost in Watts, where he began his council campaign a virtual unknown. His primary showing underscored his problem: In some Watts precincts, he did not receive a single vote.

Undeterred, Svorinich recently opened a Watts campaign headquarters.

“If you want to see a community that has been forsaken, it’s the community of Watts,” Svorinich said. “And I offer them a new hope, a new vision and accountability. That’s a message that traverses ethnicity, race or party affiliation.”