Council Race in 10th District

The Times published an editorial (May 26) that was critical of my performance in the 10th Councilmanic District campaign and laudatory of my opponent. I find your editorial stunning in its elocutionary miscomprehension of the issues in the 10th District and my own record of accomplishment and plans for the future.

I have a long, established record of people service--both as a state senator representing the 30th District and as assistant chief deputy to Los Angeles County Supervisor Kenneth Hahn. Based on my long experience as a public servant, I have put forth a number of positions during the current campaign to protect and serve the interests of the residents of the 10th District. I want to stress that my positions on the issues are based on experience--not on theories crafted to fit political expediencies, as put forth by my opponent who has not spent a single day in elective office or on the staff of an elected officeholder.

I am proud of my record in the state Senate, where I authored a number of bills that are on the books today and benefiting the people of my city. Legislation for which I was responsible includes: the Genetically Handicapped Persons Program, the Anti-Redlining Bill of 1977, the Credit Denial Disclosure Act of 1976, increased funding for inner-city schools, creation of Baldwin Hills Regional Park, control of liquor stores, property tax relief for senior citizens and observation of Dr. Martin Luther King’s Birthday every January 15th.

As a member of the state Senate, I was also a strong supporter of the “Use a Gun, Go to Jail” and mandatory jail sentence for anyone convicted of a crime against a senior citizen laws.

As a senior deputy to Supervisor Hahn, I worked long and hard to solve community problems in the 2nd Supervisorial District, which mirror those existing in the 10th Councilmanic District. I am particularly proud of my record in insuring street maintenance--including filling potholes and resurfacing streets--and tree trimming in the supervisorial district.

Those also are severe problems in the 10th Councilmanic District and I already have demonstrated my commitment, not to mention my ability, to solve them. Those problems, which are the responsibility of the Board of Public Works, were allowed to proliferate in the 10th District while my opponent served on that board and abdicated his responsibilities in those areas. In fact, in 1985 I got county crews to clear portions in the Baldwin Hills area of the city after my opponent’s Board of Public Works failed to take action.

NATE HOLDEN

Los Angeles