Same Song, 2nd Verse: Rivals Face Off Again : Thomas and Hardeman Meet for 1st Debate in Election Rematch for Inglewood Council Seat

In the first debate of a court-ordered Inglewood City Council race, Ervin (Tony) Thomas portrayed himself as a proven leader eager to involve more citizens in government, and Garland Hardeman challenged the efficiency and integrity of the current leadership.

The two rivals never clashed directly Tuesday night, although Hardeman several times raised the issue he sees as central to the campaign: that a Superior Court annulled Thomas’ election in 1987 because of Election Code violations by Thomas campaign workers. That election will be rerun Oct. 3.

Holding up copies of court documents, Hardeman called the 1987 election “the most fraudulent election in the history of the state of California.” He later accused Thomas of stealing the election from him.

‘Didn’t Commit Any Fraud’

Thomas did not respond to Hardeman’s offensive until after the debate, when he criticized Hardeman in an interview outside Bennett Elementary School. “That’s the only thing he has to campaign on,” Thomas said. “I didn’t commit any fraud.”

The debate consisted of brief opening and closing statements by the candidates and questions from the audience, whose members asked what could be done to drive prostitution, drugs and urban blight from District 4. The candidates’ answers drew little audience response.

Hardeman criticized city officials for failing to use zoning to prevent the construction of dozens of inexpensive hotels and motels that now line Imperial Highway. “The leadership has failed,” he said.

Audience members grumbled when Thomas responded that the hotels and motels were better than what he called the “shacks” that predated them.

Hardeman, a Los Angeles police officer, said gangs and drugs can be beaten only by a combination of more police enforcement, role models and alternatives for young people.

“You pose the question to me, but I pose it to all of you,” Hardeman said.

More Vigorous Police Presence

Thomas, who described himself as the only candidate with a proven record of responding to residents’ concerns, said a more vigorous police presence will drive the criminal element out of District 4. He promised a 24-hour police patrol in the Imperial Village neighborhood, where many of the audience members live.

Thomas added that citizens cannot wait for City Hall or the Police Department to solve the community’s problems.

“I can’t see everything. Policemen can’t see everything,” said Thomas, who works in marketing for the 7-Up Bottling Corp.

Thomas served for two years on the City Council before the state Supreme Court upheld the suit filed by Hardeman, which annulled the 1987 election. Last month, the Superior Court ruled that because of the annulment Thomas could not portray himself as an incumbent.