As the latest incarnation of yet another Election Day dwindles to its final hours, for heavily favored state Senate candidate Curren D. Price Jr., and others, the most meaningless data is cluttering the skies this afternoon.
All polls close at 8 this evening.
One hollow number is that two-thirds of registered voters in the yawning 26th Senate District, from Hollywood through Culver City and on into South Central, is Democratic.
Even if two-thirds were Republican, the tall, stately, businesslike Mr. Price no doubt would also win.
Typically, turnouts for these kinds of runoff elections are so miniscule that several carloads of voters can make the difference.
Mr. Price has run an aggressive, well-funded campaign, with backing from those who can be most helpful.
His two opponents, the Republican Rabbi Nachum Shifren and Peace and Freedom Party’s Cindy Varela Henderson, no doubt have tried, but like all non-Democrats, they disappeared almost immediately.
Mr. Price just completed his first two-year term in the Assembly last November and now is seeking to win the Senate seat that County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas previously held.
Ending the Monotony
Being so far ahead probably can be as boring as being far behind.
What do you do to interrupt the monotony?
Mr. Price, said his camp, is “paying special election homage to community service” tonight.
Breaking sharply with tradition, he will not host a victory party.
Instead, says spokesperson Fred MacFarlane, the candidate “will honor the special contribution made by community service groups in the 26th Senate District by donating campaign funds to local non-profit community service organizations.
“The funds being donated to the nonprofit community service groups were to have been used by the Curren Price for his state Senate campaign to host an Election Night Celebration for his campaign endorsers, supporters and volunteers.
“But Mr. Price said, ‘The state of our economy is such that an Election Night party is not as important to me, personally or politically, as is lending a hand and giving support to organizations in our community that are helping working families and young people cope with the brutal economic downturn that has affected us all, cost so many people their jobs and homes, and robbed working men and women of their optimism for what lies ahead.
“‘ Gov. Schwarzenegger has proposed the layoff of 5,000 state employees due to our state’s budget mess. This will only compound the misery our state is experiencing. Election win or not, this is obviously not the time for a party.
“‘I know my endorsers, supporters and campaign volunteers will be happy to celebrate my success on Election Night by joining with me, not at a banquet room victory bash, but instead, by embracing important community service organizations that are working every day to make life better for the people I will serve in the state Senate.’”
The Assemblyman said he would make donations to the following non-profit organizations in lieu of hosting an Election Night party:
- Jenesse Center – Los Angeles
- Los Angeles Food Bank – South L.A.
- Koreatown Youth and Community Center – Koreatown
- Star ECO Station – Culver City
- Progressive Jewish Alliance – West L.A.
Mr. Price’s website is currenpricejr.com
