No doubt the biggest surprise of the Endorsement Party at this month’s meeting of the Culver City Democratic Club was that hometown favorite Saundra Davis fell short.
The two-term School Board member known for her steel-strength candor, barely missed beating a sizable field in which she was by far the most recognizable personality.
What this showing on home turf portends in the special election to fill a vacant state Senate seat, on Tuesday, March 24, one month from tomorrow, is neither clear nor encouraging for Ms. Davis.
On the most talked-about subject of the evening, what to do about gay marriage and Prop. 8, all of the contenders, except Ms. Davis, declared their unblinking support for gay marriage.
Ms. Davis, a club member, said that she would wait until the state Supreme Court renders a decision. If the Court sends Prop. 8 back to the Legislature in Sacramento, she said she would vote to return the question to the people, who strongly voted against gay marriage last November.
Two ballots were taken at the Democratic Club meeting to determine if any of the 6 Democratic contenders could reach the club’s 60 percent threshold.
Mervin Evans, the only Democrat who did not show up, expectedly made the worst showing. He did not draw any votes.
Any Consolation?
Ms. Davis came closest both times, and she was by far the leading votegetter.
Here is the balloting:
1st 2nd
Saundra Davis 30 35
Jon Friedman 16 12
Curren Price 11 10
Robert Cole 4 2
Mike Davis 4 4
To reach the 60 percent threshold, Ms. Davis needed 40 votes in the first round and 39 in the second.
She blamed her inability to win the Democratic Club’s endorsement on the fact that some rivals brought supporters who promptly became club members.
Assemblyman Price (D-Inglewood), the favorite to win the election, has at least three major assets.
He is the most widely known of the contenders.
He has been the most visible, most aggressive, during this short campaign.
And he has been endorsed by the previous seatholder, Mark Ridley-Thomas, who won election to the County Board of Supervisors last November.
