Posted on 12/03/2004 1:35:40 PM PST by freebilly
WATSONVILLE — When Richard de la Paz Jr. came out of nowhere to beat a better-funded, well-connected candidate for a City Council seat and then two years later became the city’s youngest-ever mayor, the recent college graduate and father was hailed as a rising political star.
But the Watsonville native, who celebrated his 28th birthday last week, suffered a crushing defeat in his bid for a second term, rendering his political future unclear.
Though even his critics believe he can make a comeback, de la Paz isn’t sure he wants to make his mark through elected office.
"I still have the ability to rally people," he said. "People still appreciate what I want to give. The biggest question is, what do I want?"
But de la Paz also faces the question of how much support he has in the community. He captured less than one-third of the vote against veteran politician Oscar Rios in November. In contrast, he carried more than 55 percent of the ballots in his first campaign in 2000.
"I got my ass whooped," de la Paz conceded in his final remarks before officially stepping down during a televised council meeting.
His rival ran a better campaign, de la Paz said. But, he added, his own actions contributed to the end of his meteoric rise.
In May 2003 he lost the mayor’s post after his involvement in a barroom brawl came to light. He pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of disturbing the peace in connection to the incident.
Five months later, while on probation, he was bounced from a pool hall after a verbal confrontation with another patron.
De la Paz cites the two incidents when asked if he has any regrets. "I’d rather have left without any shadow cast over my term," he said.
Four years in office
De la Paz had never held political office before he won the council seat in 2000. He had returned from more than four years in the U.S. Navy only weeks before launching his campaign.
Councilman Ramon Gomez supported de la Paz’s opponent in the race, but changed his mind after the election when he worked side-by-side with de la Paz. Gomez said de la Paz would be remembered for his accomplishments, not his failings.
"Obviously he left a mark on the city," he said. "He can take credit for all the things we’ve accomplished in the last four years."
Gomez cited the groundbreaking, after a 15-year struggle, of the new civic center on the 200 block of Main Street as an example. His former colleague also played important roles on countywide committees dealing with transportation and landfill issues, he said.
De la Paz played a leading role in tabling a controversial plan for a new dump in Santa Cruz County.
"What he did privately is his business," Gomez said, referring to the legal struggles during his term.
But Rafael Lopez, a former councilman who served with de la Paz for two-and-half years, said those incidents caused a "community scandal" and the damage went beyond his personal life. De la Paz played out the stereotype of "reckless youth," Lopez said.
Yet de la Paz’s shortcomings arose not necessarily for his age but from a lack of experience, he said, and it showed in more than just behavior. He recalled a debate over an ordinance related to alcohol sales.
"Richard said, ‘Every now and then I like to have a 40 myself,’" Lopez said. The reference to 40-ounce bottles of alcoholic beverages drew a laugh from the crowd, he said. But his reaction, Lopez said, was a sad remark about a critical community issue.
Personal insights De la Paz said he’s proud of his council service, particularly his work on transportation and waste issues. They weren’t "sexy" but they affect everybody, he said.
He said he stuck to his principles even when it was tough. He voted to put Councilwoman Judy Doering-Nielsen in the mayor’s chair a few months after she supported his ouster from the post, for example.
"I didn’t owe her anything," de la Paz said. "At the end of the day I was able to put the bitterness of that event aside and say, ‘This is the best choice.’ "
De la Paz said he wishes he accomplished such things as securing funds to fix up the city’s older housing. But he pegged the odds of another run for the council at 5 percent. He also said he has no plans to campaign for supervisor.
The married father of two and Graniterock sales representative said he’s ready to shift his focus.
"I served my country for almost five years, and I’ve served my local community," de la Paz said. "Now it’s time to serve my family for awhile. They earned it. They deserve it."
But he hasn’t ruled out a political future. Mayor Ana Ventura Phares said de la Paz has "lots of time."
"We all learn," she said. "Some of us have to learn in different ways. Some of us take time. Definitely he has a future. If he can learn from his lessons, he can be a good council member one day."
When I lived in the area, Watsonville didn't exactly have a great image anyway. I can't see how a mayor involved in a barrom brawl could worsen it.
When I lived in the area, Watsonville didn't exactly have a great image anyway. I can't see how a mayor involved in a barrom brawl could worsen it.
A barfight? That's it? Big deal.
This is from The Sentinel about the brawl from June 2003-- real cute--
The Sheriff’s Office launched an investigation Wednesday into allegations that Mayor Richard de la Paz Jr. struck a woman in an East Lake Avenue bar last week.
Watsonville Police Chief Terry Medina asked Sheriff Mark Tracy in a letter Tuesday to take over the investigation because it would be a conflict of interest for Watsonville police to investigate.
The dispute stems from the night of May 28, according to an e-mail sent to some council members by Chris Lauesen, one of the alleged victims. Lauesen said Wednesday that he wrote the e-mail because he thought the people of Watsonville "need to know what kind of mayor they have."
Lauesen, 21, said an inebriated de la Paz harassed two women throughout the night at the Villager Bar and struck one of them when she refused his advances.
De la Paz, 26, who also said he is a victim, declined to discuss details, citing the investigation, but denied striking the unidentified woman.
"I didn’t touch her," he said.
De la Paz said he was at the bar with a cousin and a friend when a verbal confrontation ensued. He would not say what sparked the confrontation.
He said he was assaulted by the woman and Lauesen.
"I got punched," he said.
He said he had not retained an attorney.
Both men claim to have been jumped by a group of men. De la Paz said the woman scratched him and that four to six men helped Lauesen jump him, according to a news report.
Lauesen meanwhile says the mayor returned with two carloads of friends and jumped him, punching him several times. He said the mayor said, "Remember me, punk?" before attacking him.
It was my thought at the time (1989-90) that Oscar Rios was not a US citizen. I see that the council has definitely changed its demographics and political tenor.
Betty Murphy was the grandmotherly mayor during the quake. Other council members were old line. I remember during one elelction one candidate tried to give me watches and cases of artichoke hearts. THe watches I gave to station owner to put in the safe (I thought it very nethical to accept such gifts) But the Cara Mia? Well they went well with salads.
I haven't been to Watsonville or the Monterey Bay Area snce 1991 when the station owner sold his land for affordable housing (five acres in a city!)
At one time Watsonville was a very conservative community, a bastion in very liberal Santa Cruz County. But the hounds of socialists were at the gates even then. Avowed communists with wild haired schemes---Civil rights awsuits flying...cannery strikes and recriminations---Those were the days.
I worked as an engineer at KSBW-TV/AM/FM and grew up in Salinas. I remember while attending North Salinas, playing baseball at Watsonville. Lots of people with last names ending in "vich". Great apples there, and a great beach to hang out (Zmudowski?). Now it appears to be a war zone.
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