Dymally regrets racial charge in badge dispute

Assemblyman Mervyn Dymally (D-Compton), who is being investigated by colleagues for distributing pseudo official-looking badges to campaign contributors, today apologized for calling Assemblyman Hector de la Torre "the most racist legislator I have encountered." De La Torre, who is heading the inquiry, had said flashing the badges was a crime.

In a statement that Dymally's office issued this afternoon, the assemblyman said:

Events in the past weeks have caused me to reflect on my intemperate statement about race and politics.

I have been around long enough to know that you do not mix your personal feelings with public policy.

I deeply regret my statement about Assemblyman Hector De La Torre, and it is my hope that this issue is now behind us.

I support the Speaker's effort to develop a policy regarding the issuance of badges. I voted for the [former Assemblyman Rudy] Bermudez bill that prohibits the use of the state seal on unofficial documents.

Bottom line seems to be: Dymally isn't disowning his characterization of De La Torre but wishes he hadn't expressed it.

-- Jordan Rau