11 File for Molina’s Council Seat

Eleven candidates have filed candidacy papers to succeed former Los Angeles City Councilwoman Gloria Molina in a special election June 4.

They include a restaurant owner, bail bondsman, self-described political “loudmouth,” and a persistent Peace and Freedom Party candidate who has run for governor, U.S. senator and mayor.

The most important person in the race is not a candidate. Molina, who was elected a county supervisor Feb. 19, holds great sway over the electorate and may be able to handpick a successor. She did just that in 1987, when she endorsed Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-Los Angeles) to succeed her in the Assembly.

Molina was the first to represent the 1st City Council District since it was reorganized as a largely Latino district in 1986. She was reelected, without opposition, in 1989. The district’s voters turned out heavily for her supervisorial election.

As the filing deadline passed Friday, Molina had not endorsed a candidate. Among the 11 contenders are two who have been closely associated with Molina: Vivien Bonzo, operator of the La Casa Golondrina restaurant and president of the Olvera Insurance Agency, and Michael Hernandez, president of the Bea Hernandez Bonds and Insurance Agency, who Molina backed in an Assembly race in 1986.

“Gloria has not made up her mind,” said spokesman Richard Alaniz. “I think you’ll see something in the next week or two.”

The other candidates are: Caesar Kenneth Aguirre, financial consultant; Sharon Mee Yung Lowe, attorney and community advocate; Frank Juarez Foster, gang and crime interventionist; Jean Durand, writer and self-acknowledged political “loudmouth”; Frank C. Moreno, media adviser; Sandra L. Figueroa, social services administrator; Dagoberto Ramos, educator, businessman and minister; Esca W. Smith, a city electrical worker, and former Peace and Freedom Party candidate Maria Elizabeth Munoz, a bilingual teacher.