In the race to become Los Angeles first new county supervisor in 16 years, Barack Obama is playing as much of a starring role as the candidates themselves.
Strategists say voters in the district, which includes South Los Angeles, may turn out at the polls in unprecedented numbers under the prospect of electing the country's first black president. As a result, Bernard Parks has rebranded his campaign office the "Obama/Parks Headquarters," and supporters of Mark Ridley-Thomas have recrafted their rallies in recent days as "Obama/Ridley-Thomas" affairs.
The issue is particularly acute for Parks, who has battled attacks from Ridley-Thomas that he is a Republican in Democrat's clothing. Hoping to counter the perception, Parks -- a delegate for Obama at this year's Democratic convention -- carried a stack of hundreds of photos showing himself smiling with Obama, distributing them during visits to 10 churches and two voters' forums Sunday.
The district is home to 2.5 million people, with its core in Crenshaw, Watts and Baldwin Hills; around the edges are Marina del Rey, Culver City, Koreatown, Compton, Carson and Inglewood. African American voting strength is estimated to be roughly 40% in the district, closely followed by whites with 30% and Latinos with 25%.
Neither Parks nor Ridley-Thomas speak Spanish, forcing Parks to use Supervisor Gloria Molina as a surrogate at a Spanish-language service Sunday. Adriana Valenzuela, a 35-year-old mother of two children, hovered close to Parks as he exited Mass at Holy Cross Catholic Church near Exposition Park.
Although the two were unable to communicate, Parks' many years of visibility in Los Angeles earned Valenzuela's vote. "I've seen him on television for many years, first when he was chief of police and later as city councilman. I trust him. He can do more for us," she said.
-- Garrett Therolf
