California would be one of American’s most conservative states were it not for Los Angeles County. With a total of 29% of the California population and a huge Democrat registration goosed by well oiled labor machines, LA is the place to that ruins statewide Republican dreams. In fact, if reps get only 40% of the LA vote, they usually win statewide.
Naturally you would think the LA County Supervisors would be controlled by union slathering zanies like in San Francisco. In fact, the dems do have a 3-2 advantage. Each Supervisor represents 2,000,000 souls with wide political discretion in their districts. Because of demographics, there is one seat that typically elects an African American — and it is currently held by moderate-left Yvonne Braithwaite Burke. She announced that she is leaving the Supervisorial seat in 2008. That announcement is unleashing a furious passions of want- to- be politicos who covet one the most prized political jobs in California.
The big news is that former LAPD Chief, and present LA City Councilman Bernard Parks announced he will seek the post. What a great deal for the center right coalition. Parks was effectively fired by Mayor Jimmy Hahn as police chief, leading to Parks getting elected to a LA Council seat and the defeat of Hahn for reelection. Parks represents probably the poorest district in Los Angeles — South LA. The riots began there, the Martin Luther King Hospital was decertified for ongoing manslaughter there, it’s a magnet for major criminal activity. Still, Parks is popular there and throughout the county.
Parks’ voting record is astonishing and would shame many Republican City Councilmen. Parks cast the only vote against pay hikes for police and firefighters, arguing it was excessive. He criticized rent control laws and is considered one of LA’s most fiscally conservative Councilmembers. Former Republican State Chairman, and current Supervisor Mike Antonovich just endorsed Parks.
Radical racialist Senator Mark Ridley-Thomas is considering a run against Parks. Should he succeed, LA county would soon lean San Francisco Left. Fortunately, Ridley-Thomas has far more enemies than friends. Parks would crush him like a bug.
Supervisor Burke was elected in 1992 with the help of the Lincoln Clubs who feared her alternative would be far more leftist. The gamble worked, Burke got elected and has not been obnoxiously anti-business. Republicans know and like Chief Parks. They along with most of the black community will forge an interesting coalition that should remind Californians that LA County is not always hostage to center-left politics.
Should Parks get elected to the 2nd Supervisorial seat he would succeed the very same Supervisorial seat held by Mayor Jimmy Hahn’s father. Irony indeed.