One man–one candidate–stands out after last night’s 55th Assembly District candidates forum, and he’ll probably lose the race.

He’s perennial hopeful Mervin Evans, a Democrat–like the two men more likely to place first or second in this contest: Carson Councilman Mike Gipson, who has Congresswoman Laura Richardson’s endorsement; and Los Angeles Community College trustee Warren Furutani.

You knew Evans was different–and doomed–when he came right out and said what everyone knows but no one likes to admit: “I believe,” Evans said, “that this will be a small contest with low voter turnout.”

Prediction: he’s right about that; and he’ll place behind Furutani and Gipson on Dec. 11–and possibly behind one or both of the two other candidates in the 55th: lone Long Beach resident Charlotte “Sadiyah” Gibson, a nurse and an American Independent party candidate; and Herb Peters, a retired aerospace engineer and Libertarian.

That’s just a guess; like Evans’ remark, it’s just speculation. But it’s too bad that moments like Evans’ opening remarks–when he said that–and when Peters strayed onto the subject of God, or Evans onto the topic of Israel, were the moments which kept the evening alive. How long has politics been this boring?

Maybe since everyone started using the same words to agree that we need to clean up the local air, or that we need better healthcare, cheaper medicines, more education, fewer gangs. (Even the gang members will agree with that, if you put it to them the right way.) That was part of the problem last night: few of the candidates seemed skilled enough at speaking to be intriguing with their positions on the issues.

Instead they spouted cliches like “Legislation is key,” as Furutani did when he was answering a question about State Senator Alan Lowenthal’s Senate Bill 974 and struggling to define his position.

SB 974 is the bill which would impose a fee on container cargo moving in and out of state harbors including Los Angeles and Long Beach. Furutani, who is endorsed by Lowenthal, was talking about the possibility of somehow limiting truck traffic to and from the harbor. And it was boring!

The fun stuff wasn’t nearly so weighty–but it was fun! Like illegal immigration, and the question of whether illegals should be issued driver’s licenses. Evans literally hollered an answer, for the first of several times that night, when he said “We have far too many homeless veterans lying out on the streets because of the illegal immigrants here taking their jobs!”

That probably wasn’t the statement to win him an election–but it woke us up. (As for issuing licenses, Evans and Gipson seemed to be against it; Gibson, Peters and Furutani were for it, though Furutani’s idea was to issue illegals different driver’s licenses than everyone else.)

But the issue disappeared–as did much of the rest of the evening–once Evans roared. His history–and his oratory style–seemed to sink him (Furutani later made hay of his past, asking Evans how many times he’s run; Google it and see for yourself.). But like us, Evans seemed to realize that he was the most dynamic speaker in the room, way ahead of Furutani and Gipson.

“They all have strings attached to them,” Evans said in his closing remarks–referring to candidates’ endorsements and campaign contributors. “I don’t.” Then he tried making a joke–telling the audience of about 30 at Veterans Park that he was the best-looking candidate.

“You know you need a good-looking fellow to represent you,” Evans said.

They listened, and they didn’t buy it–but they were awake.

Tags: 55th Assembly District, California, Charlotte “Sadiyah” Gibson, Herb Peters, laura richardson, Long Beach, Mervin Evans, MIKE GIPSON, Southern California, The District Weekly, Theo Douglas, Warren Furutani