Ridley-Thomas seen as agent of change

The campaign team for Supervisor-elect Mark Ridley-Thomas said they bellieve they wer able to win their runoff election over Counciman Bernard Parks by concentrating on new voters and portraying him as the candidate who would bring about change.
"All polling reflected that voters of all ages saw Ridley-Thomas as the candidate who would bring change, and as part of the next generation of leaders," consultant Steve Barkan said.
"While Parks had what used to be the dominant endorsements in the African-American community - including Congresswoman Maxine Waters and incumbent Supervisor Yvonne Burke - voters instead wanted a change in representation, and were not swayed by Parks' endorsers.
"Parks - with the support of a majority of the Board of Supervisors - clearly represented the status quo to voters. This is not the right year to be positioned that way, especially with the failure and closure of King-Harbor Hospital on their watch."
Ridley-Thomas, who won bt 17 percent, also was helped by his long career as a community organizer and City Council members, Barkan said.
Ridley-Thomas is to take office on Dec. 1.