Death, race, politics, and family ties

When we last checked in with the campaign to replace Rep. Juanita Millender-McDonald, who died last month of cancer, it looked like a two-person clash between Sen. Jenny Oropeza and Assemblywoman Laura Richardson for the Long Beach seat. The race immediately became about ethnicity - the Latina versus the African American in the racially diverse district.

Now, 19 candidates have filed paper to replace Millender-McDonald - including her daughter, Richardson and Oropeza, a city councilman, an Iraq war veteran, the mother of a Marine, "and a man who served eight years in prison for kidnapping and assault," the Press-Telegram reports.

The exception has been Long Beach city councilwoman Gerrie Schipske, who withdrew from the special election just three days after entering the race. "It's a full-time circus. You've got too many clowns in this race," candidate Mervin Evans told the Long Beach newspaper, which elaborates:

"The most interesting character in the bunch is (L.J. 'Bishop') Guillory, a black Republican who wants to be elected in order for 'God to have a position of authority in government.' Guillory enjoyed brief prominence in the early 1990s when he organized protests against a judge who had ordered probation for a Korean grocer who shot a black teenager.

"Soon thereafter, Guillory was sentenced to 12 years in prison for kidnapping, burglary and assault with a firearm. On his Web site, Guillory has posted an elaborate defense to the charges, which he said were the result of corruption, false testimony, and the machinations of his ex-wife."

So far, Richardson has been endorsed by Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, Rep. Maxine Waters, and former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown. But Richardson supporter Mervyn Dymally, a state Assemblyman from the area, said with Millender-McDonald's daughter entering the race, Richardson could be in trouble. The black vote could be divided.

Valerie McDonald has been under pressure, the Times' John L. Mitchell reports, from black elected officials to support Richardson, "a more seasoned candidate considered by many to have a better chance of winning and keeping the seat in African American hands. With Richardson and McDonald in the race, the black vote could be divided." That helps Oropeza.

"Valerie's mother was popular in Carson and Compton," Dymally told the Times. "The name will have appeal. There'll be a sympathy vote." State Sen. Mark Ridley-Thomas said African Americans should focus their voting strength on one candidate: "I'm holding out hope that someone will get a clue. I wish we could resolve this in such a way to maximize the opportunity to retain the seat. The current path is untenable."

Why focus on the racial overtones of the campaign? It's an obvious dynamic that can't be ignored. The Times' editorial board, however, says alliances between the camps should not be shoved aside for ethnic rivalries: "The racial caucuses on Capitol Hill are looking after their own power, and coalition-building takes a back seat. It would be a shame if black and Latino Democrats — many of whom are lining up behind candidates who would build their own caucus ranks — ended up stoking racial tension rather than building effective coalitions."

(Photos: Lou Dematteis/Reuters; Offices of Richardson and Oropeza)