ELECTIONS / L.A. MAYOR : Houston’s Campaign Called Racist, Divisive

In a blistering attack on mayoral candidate Tom Houston, three minority City Council members Monday accused him of running a racist, divisive campaign by blaming illegal immigrants for the city’s ills and calling for the deportation of undocumented gang members.

“He has forfeited his right to serve in any public office because of his divisive campaign,” said Councilman Richard Alatorre, who was joined at a press conference by colleagues Mike Hernandez and Rita Walters and mayoral candidate Julian Nava. “We need somebody that is going to bring this city together, not prey on some people’s prejudices.”

In a sign of just how sensitive the immigration issue is, Alatorre and others argued that Houston, an Anglo, has created a climate that blames all Latinos, legal and illegal, for the city’s problems. Houston’s calls for more cooperation between Los Angeles police and the Immigration and Naturalization Service, they said, carry the danger of turning all Latinos into suspects in the eyes of law enforcement.

A former deputy mayor, Houston has highlighted illegal immigration in an attempt to stand out from the pack of 52 people vying to replace Mayor Tom Bradley in April. His first television commercial on the subject ran last week.

Houston accused his critics of misreading his remarks and being out of touch with community sentiment.

“Houston is not for deporting all illegal aliens,” he said. “Houston is not for mass sweeps. People are hyping the whole thing. I want violent gang members deported. . . . This is a topic that is the subject of discussion at dinner tables across this city and ought to be discussed in this campaign.”

At numerous campaign appearances, Houston has called for federal funds to reimburse the city for the resources it devotes to illegal immigrants. He has also urged deportation of members of two violent gangs made up predominantly of undocumented Latino youths.

“We’re so afraid of bringing up these issues that they get ignored,” Houston said. “We have to send a message that if you are an illegal alien coming to this country, fine. We’re going to try to get federal money to provide services. But if you join one of these murderous gangs, you’re out of here.”

Houston, who made a splash with his comments early in the campaign, has been out of the limelight in recent days as he recovers from pneumonia.