Former Councilman Vazquez Launches Campaign

By Jorge Casuso

Former Councilman Tony Vazquez launched his bid to become the Westside's first Latino Assembly member at a fundraiser on the pier Sunday attended by many of the city's top community leaders.

Vazquez, who is vying for the 41st district seat vacated by Sheila Kuehl, stressed education, health and housing as the "three-pronged approach" to his campaign.

"This is about improving the schools in L.A., the health care in L.A., keeping the people who live in this community here," Vazquez told more than 100 supporters gathered at the new Arcadia Restaurant. "Is it a place where only the ultra-rich can live?"

A product of public education, whose children also attended Santa Monica public schools, Vazquez called for increased funding for the school system.

"It is embarrassing to see we are among the lowest in the country in funding," Vazquez said about California's public schools. "Put money at the front end. Make public education a top priority."

Vazquez also stressed the urgency of reaching children who are being dumped into special education programs because they are not fluent in English, something he knows firsthand.

"We need to be open to anybody and everything to reach the kids," he said. "Whatever works a long as you teach the child to read. Mentally, they drop out as early as the eighth or ninth grade."

Vazquez, who served on the Santa Monica City Council from 1990 to 1994, also alluded to the affordable housing crunch facing Santa Monica, as well as much of Los Angeles, which is rapidly becoming affordable only to the wealthy. "We need to not only create affordable housing," he said, "but maintain affordable units."

Vazquez also touted the importance of universal health care, noting that 7 million Californians -- including the educated who work several part-time jobs to make ends meet -- do not receive any health benefits.

NBC newsman David Cruz gave a comic but emotional speech introducing Vazquez to the crowd of supporters - which included Mayor Pam O'Connor and State Sen. Richard Alarcon, as well as Councilman Kevin McKeown and more than a dozen members of city boards and commissions.

Calling Vazquez "a veteran of the streets," Cruz spoke about the former councilman's commitment to closing the "digital divide," the growing technological gap separating the haves from the have-nots. Vazquez, he said, quickly joined the effort that resulted in Gateway computers donating 25,000 machines to public schools across the country.

Cruz also touted Vazquez's long-time battle to usher in political change by increasing turnout. On a personal note, the newsman noted that a line in his contract prohibited him from getting involved in politics, which is impossible.

"Life is politics," Cruz told the crowd. "The price of tortillas in Mexico is politics. Raise it a nickel and there are people that won't have food to eat."

Vazquez, who has worked for years to increase Latino registration, agreed.

"I've always told people, 'Everything is politics,'" Vazquez said. "So many times we forget that. If you don't get involved, you're supporting the status quo. That's political, whether you like it or not."

Also vying in March's Democratic Party primary are local school board member Brenda Gottfried, former Agoura Hills mayor Fran Pavley and David Freeman, the CEO of the Los Angeles Dept. of Water and Power. Kuehl -- who must vacate her seat under term limits -- will run in the neighboring 42nd Assembly District against Assemblyman Wally Knox.

The 41st Assembly District stretches from Venice to Encino, and from the Ocean to Westwood.