[img]879|left|Sen. Curren D. Price Jr. (D-Culver City)||no_popup[/img]Running unopposed tomorrow in the state Democratic primary and against a longshot Republican in the general election in November, state Sen. Curren D. Price Jr. (D-Culver City) is as handsomely positioned as any state legislator in North America.
Washington Democrats are said to be in trouble these off-year elections.
Their woes, however, are unrelated to the dashing Sen. Price, who is as safe as a polar bear who just purchased his own set of home freezers as a hedge against global warming.
For the last year and a half, his life has been dedicated to winning lopsided races. A year ago January, the Inglewood politician emerged as the early and permanent frontrunner for new County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas’s old state Senate seat. Mr. Price won the Democratic runoff over a crowd two months later from here to the Lincoln Memorial.
Two months after that, on May 19 of last year, he officially became Sen. Price over two opponents roughly by the margin that separates the sun from the moon.
This morning, Sen. Price said that he has been campaigning ever since, to win the primary and to capture a full two-year term in the Senate in November.
While some of his colleagues may need to finger their worry beads as they watch results trickle in tomorrow night, Sen. Price’s evening probably will be divided much more casually between two camps.
He is supporting Holly J. Mitchell to succeed Speaker Emeritus Karen Bass in the Assembly, and he has endorsed the favored Ms. Bass, who wants to move from Sacramento to Washington, succeeding the retiring U.S. Rep. Diane Watson (D-Los Angeles).
Touring his district this spring, Sen. Price said that jobs are the No. 1 interest of his audiences.
“‘Jobs, jobs, jobs’ is everybody’s mantra,” he said. “I did a resource fair this past Saturday for youths, who have been very hard hit. I tried to show them where summer jobs are available, and where programs are available.”
As a single legislator, what can the Senator do, meaningfully, about the jobs crisis?
One, Alone, Not Much
“A legislator can support a package of jobs’ bills that provide more opportunities,” Sen. Price said. “But one person? Very little. Working together is the key.”
Unlike the city of Los Angeles, the state Legislature, dominated by Democrats, has not taken a position on the pending Arizona anti-illegal immigrant law.
Not that revelation of the majority preference will be a surprise.
“I do support taking affirmative action in that way,” Sen. Price said. “The law, as Arizona passed it, is a little misguided. But I certainly understand the frustrations that people are feeling in Arizona and here in California, also.”
What is misguided about the legislation?
“Thinking that this is the solution to the problem,” said Sen. Price. “There has to be a national solution. Nothing can be done on a state-by-state basis. But until there is uniformity with enforcement and apprehension…
“Another problem is the businesses that are hiring illegals. A crackdown is needed on both sides. I am concerned about trampling people’s rights. I am not in favor of the profiling that has been talked about, stopping someone just because they are of Latin descent or foreign descent.”
Yesterday, Sen. Price joined a pro-Israel rally on Wilshire Boulevard in front of the Israeli Consulate.
The Senator has visited Israel extensively.
He said it is clear that Israeli Jews want peace, and he supports the blockade to prevent arms from being smuggled into Gaza.
