Mayor for Life?

In Inglewood, even a runoff might not defrock Dorn

A A A Comments By Daniel Hernandez Tuesday, Nov 14 2006

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A lot is at stake in the runoff. Inglewood, the gateway city to LAX, is in a state of transition. Property values have risen sharply, and so has the city’s tax base. But Inglewood faces a consistent crime and gang problem. Voters last week passed a new sales-tax measure to increase funding for “vital services,” which presumably includes resources for more badly needed police officers. And, as Dorn has promised, more development is on the way. Aubry, Tabor and other activists in Inglewood worry that the type of development Dorn backs provides mostly low-quality jobs, and should be balanced out with investment in small and locally owned businesses. Since there are no term limits and no spending limits in Inglewood, someone as connected as Dorn could theoretically stay in office as long as the Lord allows it.

Which is fine by Dorn’s people, who believe all’s good in Inglewood under the man who leads prayer every week on the top floor of City Hall. At his campaign headquarters on lovely Market Street in downtown Inglewood, Dorn supporters kept arriving as election night wore on. The mayor, tieless with his shirt collar comfortably open, greeted them all. Even U.S. Representative Maxine Waters dropped by, riling up with the room with a brief “Dorn!” chant before ducking out.

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“[He’s] the best thing that’s happened to Inglewood since they built the Forum,” said Michael Benbow, a city commissioner wearing a T-shirt with a color image of Dorn in a judge’s robe. Everyone in the city should vote for him, Benbow said, “unless they got something wrong with their eyes.”

Annie Copeland, a caterer, said Dorn should be mayor “as long as he wants. Plus, he’s a God-fearing man.”

Elsewhere in the room, Dorn greeted loyal clergy and said a few blessings. When it looked like he wouldn’t win outright, he growled, “Of course, I’d prefer to not have a runoff. But whoever I’m in a runoff with, I’ll destroy.”

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