Riordan’s South-Central Adviser Isn’t Preaching to the Choir : Politics: Baptist minister E.V. Hill has made his mark by taking a contrarian, conservative view. Even ardent liberals admire his commitment to the community.

The Rev. E.V. Hill, a Baptist minister tapped by Mayor Richard Riordan as a special adviser for South-Central Los Angeles, is used to singing a loud and contrary solo as other African-American leaders harmonize in chorus.

Known for his stirring sermons and extensive outreach programs, Hill is a gung-ho Republican in solidly Democratic turf--and he would have it no other way.

The iconoclastic conservative has railed against homosexuality and abortion at the pulpit. He stuck by Jim Bakker and Jimmy Swaggart during their sex scandals. He gave the inaugural prayer for Richard Nixon in the middle of Watergate and twice headed the Clergy for Reagan committee.

Hill departs from most African-Americans even in what he calls himself. Shunning the term “black” to refer to his ethnicity--once calling it “theologically, philosophically and ophthalmologically unacceptable”--Hill uses “Negro” instead.

Even those who are jarred by Hill’s past associations acknowledge that he has won over many movers and shakers in the African-American community during his three decades of pastoring in Los Angeles’ inner city.

“He has not let his Republicanism get in the way of his black-ism,” said Danny Bakewell, a friend of Hill who is president of the Brotherhood Crusade.

At a 1986 celebration of Hill’s 25 years of service at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, the honorary chairmen included Bakewell, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, then-Mayor Tom Bradley and Urban League executive director John Mack.

But Hill has often differed philosophically with those leaders as well. He endorsed former Mayor Sam Yorty over Bradley in 1973 and in presidential elections consistently has supported Republicans (although he impressed many blacks by raising money for one of Jackson’s presidential bids.)

“He’s an enigma,” said James Cleaver, a former editor of the Los Angeles Sentinel who knows Hill well. “He can’t be judged solely by his associations. There’s so much to the man that it is almost impossible to categorize him.”

Although Hill does not live in Los Angeles--he makes his home just outside the line in View Park--there has been remarkably little public criticism of his appointment or his work in South-Central.

Many take issue with his conservatism, however, and say they have parted ways with him on issues in the past.

One powerful black leader called Hill “a pastor, not a policy analyst” and said “his views are not reflective of the sentiment of African-Americans.”

Another leader, Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Los Angeles), says she and Hill have disagreed on some issues and agreed on others. But she was quick to add that she is “sure he will do his best to represent our interests.”

Hill is not the only unconventional minority leader chosen by Riordan. Those who are watching his selections--from Mel Wilson for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to Al Villalobos as deputy mayor--see a conservative look in many of the new faces Riordan is bringing to City Hall.

“We worked very, very hard in his campaign,” said Celes King, a black Republican who also endorsed Riordan, but did not seek an appointment. “The people who came out openly against Riordan should not expect appointments. There are too many qualified people out here who will do the job well and not forget where they came from.”

Few question Hill’s commitment to South-Central. Since 1961, when he took over as pastor of Mt. Zion, Hill has distributed food to the hungry through his Lord’s Kitchen, built senior citizen housing and started a credit union. He has turned Mt. Zion into one of the city’s largest churches.

Hill also has served as an important Los Angeles contact for top Republicans. It was Hill’s church that President George Bush visited in the days after last year’s riots. He was a featured speaker at last year’s Republican convention in Houston.

Outside the church, Hill has traveled the world delivering sermons and can be seen regularly on Trinity Broadcasting Network.

“He’s a free spirit,” said the Rev. Frank Higgins, president of the Baptist Ministers Conference of Los Angeles. “But I’ve always recognized that he has in his heart and his soul the good of the people. I can go to bed at night with him in the mayor’s office.”

Hill becomes Riordan’s third adviser, joining William Ouchi, a UCLA management professor who is a senior adviser, and Ted Stein, who will recommend ways to wring money from Los Angeles International Airport. Riordan staffers say he plans no other volunteer adviser positions at this time.

It remains to be seen what responsibility Hill will have and how much access he will have to Riordan. Riordan aides say they had considered Hill for a spot on the citizen commission that oversees the Community Redevelopment Agency. But he was disqualified when they discovered that he lives outside the city.

Regardless of his address and his political affiliations, Riordan said Hill is in tune with South-Central.

“He has brought me together with a lot of diverse leaders down there, a lot of whom are Democrats,” Riordan said. “I think it’s wrong to say that the African-American community all thinks the same. It’s as diverse as any other community.”

Hill is proud of his contrarian nature and goes so far as to say he would immediately become a Democrat if black leaders signed up en masse with the GOP.

“I have never found it necessary for all of us to be in the same ship,” Hill said. “There’s a possibility of the ship sinking.”

But Hill says he has worked tirelessly in the community over the years and has made important contacts during that time. No one person, he says, can represent Los Angeles’ African-Americans.

“I don’t claim to be a representative--but I don’t think we have a representative,” Hill said. “I think we have a bunch of people who know what’s going on. I’m one of them and I can get the others on the phone.”

He added: “I think I’m one of among 50 who can get any information that’s out there in the Negro community. I don’t think it’s strange that of the 50 that are out there, the mayor would select someone who supported him.”

While calling Hill’s appointment a positive step, Bakewell says the proof of Riordan’s commitment to South-Central remains to be seen.

“The bottom line is the resources that are brought to the community,” Bakewell said. “I don’t care if Mickey Mouse is made an adviser, if Mickey Mouse can bring resources to the African-American community.”

Edward Vincent Hill, 59, grew up in a log cabin in Texas. One of the proudest moments of his childhood came in 1947 when he won a ribbon for the grand champion hog of the Texas State Fair. He was the first black to receive the same price for his hog as a white boy--$3 a pound.

In the 32 years since he arrived in Los Angeles, Hill has learned his way around City Hall and added to his extensive resume. During Yorty’s tenure, he served on numerous citizen bodies--including the Los Angeles Housing Authority, the Fire Commission and the Human Relations Commission.

One of a handful of African-American pastors to back Riordan early in the campaign, Hill praises Bradley’s tenure but says it is time for a businessman in the mayor’s office. The fact that Riordan has achieved great wealth is something he ought to be proud of, Hill said. But he ought to teach others what he has learned, he added.

“I honestly think that Mayor Riordan is going to bring Los Angeles city under sound business management,” Hill said. “As he does that, I’m going to need to say: ‘Mr. Mayor, that hurts. Is there another alternative?’ . . . I believe he’s going to need someone reared in a log cabin to interpret his suggestions.”