Part II
[Editor’s Note: See Part I, “Henderson’s Path: From Carnegie Hall to the White House to City Hall?” March 20.]
As the campaign for three seats on the City Council chugs into its final two weeks this afternoon, Dr. Luther Henderson finds that he is facing the same question that confronted him at the beginning of the campaign:
Can he sufficiently separate his newly minted political self from his established public image as, primarily, an accomplished musician and connoisseur of culture.
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L.A. City Councilman Herb Wesson, right, is the latest to endorse Dr. Henderson
At community forums around Culver City the past seven weeks, when the eight or nine candidates were asked to introduce themselves, Dr. Henderson stepped forward and carefully knotted his identity to the Cultural Affairs Commission.
He has been a prominent and proud pacesetting member of the Commission throughout its seven-year history, and twice he has served as the chair.
Here is Dr. Henderson’s conundrum: Does he ride that horse as a cultural connoisseur casually elbow that concept to the sidelines?
Right Strategy?
Dr. Henderson has played it down the middle, appearing to keep a foot in both worlds.
It will be seen on Tuesday, April 8, whether that was the right strategy.
No question that it is a tough tactical call for the 58-year-old scholarly musician who also balances careers as a college professor and Culver City realtor.
Professionally, it could be argued that although some of his rivals are at the zenith of their fertile professional lives, none has the brand of glossy credentials that he is proffering to voters.
The Worth of a Resume
Dr. Henderson the musician has performed at Carnegie Hall and the White House.
How do you translate that kind of non-traditional background, politically speaking, into a first-time run for office in Culver City?
A cynic would say that his resume plus two dollars will fetch a cup of cold coffee for him.
Dr. Henderson has an itch — his career in the entertainment world. It is not clear, even at this late date, whether he can scratch it — reflect on his life in the upper strata of classical music.
‘Cultural City’
Understandably, he views his adopted hometown through a cultural prism. Sometimes he refers to it as “Cultural City,” a tribute to the community’s transition from the old Mayberry days to a culturally savvy community with a developing national reputation.
Dr. Henderson would contend a share of the credit should be traced to the influence of the Cultural Affairs Commission.
“As a 16-year resident of Culver City and chair of the Cultural Affairs Commission,” he says, “the Commission established and implemented the city’s first-ever Community Cultural Plan. You can see from the past seven years that we have implemented parts of the plan, with both short-term and long-term goals.
Improving Both Sides of Town
“On parts of the East Side and the West Side, Culver City is enjoying a renaissance of growth in the arts. Economically, this has helped the city as far as what businesses are coming in. We need to do as much for the West Side as we have for the East.
“We need something like The Actors’ Gang West or the Jazz Bakery West to serve as a catalyst. When we put in something that will draw people, then other businesses will come.”
Dr. Henderson said he has a vision.
“If Culver City were baseball, we would be talking about a ‘Field of Dreams,’” he said in reference to the 1989 hit movie about a baseball field that bobbed up overnight in an unlikely Middle Western setting.
Determining a Balance
“Harry Culver (Culver City’s Founding Father) wanted a balanced city where people could live, work, and raise their families in a safe, secure environment
“We need to be business friendly. We also need to find out what we can do to help businesses already here. I am not talking about a handout but doing for them what we can to help them.
“Having economically viable businesses is the lifeblood of a city. If the businesses aren’t viable, the blood won’t flow.”
Making a Difference
Battling through a crowded field for one of the three beckoning City Council seats, Dr. Henderson believes that one of his most persuasive arguments is his budgetary background.
For 13 of his 26 years on the campus of Los Angeles City College, he “assisted in developing, writing and formulating the budgetary process” of the Los Angeles Community College District. “Those are the kinds of skills needed on the City Council,” he says.
He lists this as his No. 1 accomplishment in his campaign publicity, demonstrating that he knows what he has to do to impress voters.
Next Campaign Event
On Sunday afternoon at 2:30, Dr. Henderson’s campaign will sponsor “A Salute to Our Culver City Seniors,” at the Lakeside Villas Clubhouse, 5400 Maytime Ln.
Music, food and drink, and two auctions will highlight the afternoon.
“All funds collected from the silent auction and the live auction will be donated to the Culver City Senior Citizens Assn. to support Senior Center programs,” Dr. Henderson said.
The candidate said that former Mayor Albert Vera, who has endorsed him, will be a special guest at the four-hour program.
For information: 310.495.0202 or www.LutherHendersonForCouncil.org
