Molina, Torres Compare Support : Debate: Candidates in supervisor race agree on most issues except their endorsements.

Los Angeles City Councilwoman Gloria Molina and state Sen. Art Torres, candidates in the race for Los Angeles County supervisor, exchanged barbs about their endorsements during an otherwise amicable debate Tuesday before the Angelus Plaza Senior Citizens Club.

Torres (D-Los Angeles) said he has been endorsed by all seven candidates who were eliminated in the Jan. 22 primary election, including the third- and fourth-place finishers in the election--Sarah Flores (a former deputy to Supervisor Pete Schabarum) and state Sen. Charles M. Calderon (D-Whittier).

“All of them talked to both of us and they decided after this primary election that I would be the best candidate,” Torres said.

Molina countered by telling the crowd of 100 senior citizens, most of them residents of the Angelus Plaza housing complex, about her endorsement by U.S. Rep. Edward Roybal (D-Los Angeles).

“I have probably one of the most valuable endorsements not only to this district but to this building,” Molina said. “And that is the person (who) went to Congress to fight for the interests of senior citizens and fought for the money to build Angelus Plaza.”

Molina cited statistics from the Jan. 22 primary. “In the area that has been represented (in the state Senate) by the opposing candidate,” she said, “I won with over 49% of the vote. And that is because I had the most treasured endorsement of all, the people that you are going to serve.”

Torres and Molina will meet Feb. 19 in a runoff election in a redrawn 1st District created by a federal judge who ruled that the old boundaries discriminated against Latinos.

Both candidates are liberal Democrats and agree on most issues--including greater support for social services and expansion of the Board of Supervisors to at least seven members.

However, in response to a question about funding county-run programs, Torres attacked Molina, charging that she would raise taxes.

“I don’t believe that the first recourse ought to be to raise taxes--and that’s where Ms. Molina and I differ,” Torres said. “I believe that we ought to use taxes as the last recourse. . . . The first issue is to clean up that waste and cut that fat (in county government).”

Although Molina did not say that she would raise taxes, she agreed with most of the points made by Torres.

“What we need is creative new solutions and effective management before we increase taxes,” Molina responded. “That’s absolutely true.”