Gwen Duffy Obituary

Above, Gwen Duffy and yours truly at the White House in June 1982.

I was working on something when I happened to find an obituary for former Gardena (California) City Councilwoman Gwen Duffy.

She was a great friend and political ally back in the 1980s. She and I were part of the 1980 California Delegation to the Republican National Convention. The Delegation was invited to the White House for a reception in June 1982. Gwen and I both attended.

The Daily Breeze posted an obituary, which reads in part:

1922 – 2020 FIRST GARDENA COUNCIL WOMAN DIES The first woman to be elected to the Gardena City Council died on February 1, 2020. 

As Chair of the Committee to Preserve Property Rights in Gardena, Gwen helped to defeat a Gardena Redevelopment Agency ordinance. As a member of the Gardena Republican Women, Federated, she served as a member of the California Delegation of Reagan for President at the National Conventions in 1976, 1980, and 1984. She was a member of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary, Gardena Emblem Club, Gardena Valley Friends of the Library, Gardena-Carson Family YMCA Board of Directors, Gardena Valley YWCA, Gardena Sister City Association, Gardena Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention and Chair of the Gardena We TIP Committee. Gwen was the first woman elected to the Gardena City Council and served from 1982 to 1999. 

To read the full obituary, go here. 

Forever Stamps: "Frogs"

Above, the "Frogs" stamp book. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

This morning, I went to the post office at the Flying J to mail my bills and to buy a book of postage stamps.

The only stamps the clerk had were "Frogs".

 I took one look at the stamps and immediately thought of the late California State Assemblyman Paul Bannai. I thought, "Wouldn't Paul Bannai love these!" 

Bannai was a big frog fanatic. He made it a point to annually attend the famous Calaveras County Jumping Frog Jubilee in the the Mother Lode sierra range. 

Above, Paul Bannai with the frog novelty I picked up on vacation.

One year, while I was on his staff as a field representative in his Gardena district office, I presented to him a stuffed frog novelty I found at a curio shop while on vacation. We took photo of me presenting the frog to him.

All that aside, the stamps are nice ones.

Paul T. Bannai, R.I.P.

Above, Paul Bannai and Armand at the 2014 Little Tokyo Oshogatsu New Year's celebration. 

It has been announced by the Nichi Bei Weekly that former Califorinia State Assemblyman Paul T. Bannai has died at the age of 99.

They wrote:

Former California State Assemblyman Paul Takeo Bannai, the first Japanese American elected to serve in the California State Legislature, peacefully passed away in Los Angeles, Calif. on Sept. 14, 2019. He was 99. 

Bannai was born on July 4, 1920, 180 miles northeast of Denver, in Delta, Colo. He grew up in other towns in Arizona and Utah. 

During World War II, Bannai and his family were incarcerated in the Manzanar concentration camp in California. Bannai would go on to join the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, traveling to New Guinea and other places overseas. According to a biography, he trained with the 522nd Field Artillery Battalion, before being assigned to the U.S. Army Intelligence Service. 

He would eventually get married to Hideko Bannai, where they would resettle in Gardena, Calif. 

After establishing his own insurance company, the Bannai Realty and Insurance Company, he would run for the Gardena City Council in 1972, and in 1973, was elected to the California State Legislature, serving four terms from 1973 to 1980 as a Republican representing the 67th and 53rd Districts.

Above, Assemblyman Paul Bannai addresses the Los Angeles
County Young Republicans in 1976. Photo by Ken Huthmaker.

I worked in the Bannai special election campaign in 1973 and served as a field representative in his district office during his first term.

Following his 1980 re-election loss, he was appointed by President Reagan as chief director of the Memorial Affairs Department of Veterans Affairs.

Above, Paul Bannai, Deane Dana, Armand and Hideko Bannai at the 1981 "Salute to Paul Bannai" dinner.

Although he was well into his 90s, he remained very active, so much so I used to think he was like the "Energizer Bunny", even when he had to use a walker to get around.

Above, yours truly with Assemblyman Bannai in Bannai's Capitol office in 1977.

I last saw Bannai at the Oshogatsu celebration on New Year's Day in Little Tokyo in Los Angeles. He was rarely without a camera on him.

Above, Bannai and a frog novelty I picked up for him in 1974.

Bannai also had a big passion for frogs. During the 1973 special election, his had his campaign managers pulling their hair out when he decided to break from the campaign to attend the Calaveras County Jumping Frog Jubilee in Angel's Camp. During one of my vacations, I spotted a stuffed frog novelty and bought it for him. It was presented to him in his district office. He got a kick out of it.

Above, Paul Bannai at the 2017 Oshogatsu in Little Tokyo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The last time I saw Bannai was at the 2017 New Year's Day Oshogatsu in Little Tokyo. He was using a walker to get around, but he was determined to be as active as he could.

While it is sad to learn of his passing, Paul Bannai did lead a long active life of service.

Rest in peace, Boss.

To read more, go here.

From the Rafu Shimpo.

Party Boss Days

This morning, I was scanning some old photographs from my days as the chairman of the 53rd Assembly District Republican Central Committee. Some were pretty faded, but I managed to "tweek" them a bit so they'll look better.

The 53rd Assembly District comprised of Hawthorne, Lawndale, Gardena and some portions of Los Angeles and unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County. It had about 24% Republican registration, so it was a matter of time the incumbent, Republican State Assemblyman Paul Bannai, would lose a re-election bid.

Up until 1980, we were lucky that Bannai faced carpetbagger Democratic opponents. In 1980, he faced off against Richard E. "Dick" Floyd, a rather uncouth and bombastic character who was an aide to the area's state senator, Ralph Dills.

The South Bay area had a number of quirky Democrats in the state legislature. Another was State Senator James Q. Wedworth.  One time, I was helping Dan Walker in his campaign for a seat on the Torrance City Council. When Walker held his campaign headquarters grand opening, Wedworth showed up (he was running for re-election that year). Walker had refreshment platters of meats and cheeses for the attendees. Serving forks were placed there for people to serve themselves with. At one point, Wedworth stood next to one of the platters and started eating from the platter with a serving fork. When he was done, he left the fork in the platter and walked off.

When I saw this, my mouth must have dropped in astonishment. Seeing my reaction, a friend (who was on Walker's campaign staff) came over to me with a big grin and said, "Well, Armand. Now you know why they call him Barnyard Jim!"

Anyway, back to Dick Floyd. Floyd beat Bannai for the assembly seat in 1980. Floyd later earned the antipathy of California bikers when he sponsored, and Governor Pete Wilson signed, the motorcycle helmet law.

Bannai later joined the Reagan Administration as head of the veterans cemeteries for the Veterans Administration.

Here's some photos (all by Kenneth Huthmaker):

Alondra Club, September 20, 1980

The 53rd Assembly District Republican Central Committee held a luncheon at the Alondra Club in Lawndale. Besides the usual political speeches, the luncheon featured a "Famous Persons Auction" of items donated by such luminaries as former President Ford, Sen. Barry Goldwater, Caspar Weinburger and others.

Above, Assemblyman Paul Bannai addresses the 53rd Assembly
District Republican Central Committee luncheon held in Lawndale.

Above, yours truly chairing the luncheon. Committee member Patrick Keller is at left.

Gung Hay Chinese Restaurant, February 5, 1981

After Assemblyman Paul Bannai lost his re-election bid the previous November, the 53rd Assembly District Republican Central Committee held the "Salute To Paul Bannai" dinner at the Gung Hay Chinese Restaurant in Gardena. The dinner had about 300 people in attendance and it drew some political heavyweights as Lieutenant Governor Mike Curb, San Diego Mayor Pete Wilson, L.A. County Supervisor Deane Dana, former Democrat Congressman Charles Wilson and many members of city councils of the cities in the district.

The restaurant was located at the former location of Bannai's campaign headquarters during the 1973 special election.

Above (from left), Mrs. Hideko Bannai, Lt. Gov. Mike Curb, former Assemblyman Paul Bannai and Armand Vaquer.

Above (from left), Wesley Bush, Lt. Gov. Mike Curb, Armand Vaquer and Bill Fernandez.

Above (from left), former Assemblyman Paul Bannai, L.A. Co. Supervisor Deane Dana, Armand Vaquer and Hideko Bannai.

Above, yours truly presenting former Assemblyman Bannai with a
 plaque in appreciation of his service in the California State Assembly.

Payback Against The Waxman-Berman Machine

Above, Paul Bannai receives a novelty frog gift from
Armand in Bannai's Gardena district office in 1974.

Two years ago, thanks to reapportionment and the wacko new primary election system in California that pits the top two vote-getters against each other, even if they are of the same party, Rep. Brad Sherman had to face Rep. Howard Berman in the general election.

At the time, many GOP bigwigs were tripping over themselves in issuing endorsements of either Sherman or Berman, I stayed true to my conservative principles and endorsed and voted for Republican Mark Reed in the primary. Unfortunately, Reed wasn't one of the top two vote-getters so it ended up being a choice between Sherman and Berman.

Regular readers of this blog know that I am not particularly enamored with some of the policy positions of Brad Sherman. I was not fond of Howard Berman either. Both are liberals. But the choice was made easier for me as I remembered how the Henry Waxman-Howard Berman machine installed a carpetbagger into the 53rd Assembly District (Hawthorne-Gardena) to run against Assemblyman Paul Bannai with big West L.A. money backing him. I worked as a field representative for Bannai off and on (college permitting) back in those days. So, it was natural for me to give Mr. Berman a little "payback."

Therefore, I came out in support of Brad Sherman and Sherman sent Berman into retirement. Some of my conservative friends almost had strokes over this. But, as Sir Winston Churchill put it, "If Hitler invaded hell I would make at least a favourable reference to the devil in the House of Commons."

Above, Paul Bannai and Armand at the Little Tokyo Oshogatsu celebration on New Year's Day 2014.

In case you would like to read a little about the Waxman-Berman political machine, former Bannai campaign director Allan Hoffenblum has an article about it.

To read the article, go here.

Japanese Americans Can Be Bridge Between U.S. and Japan

Above, New Year's Day "Oshogatsu" celebration in Little Tokyo in 2013. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Irene Hirano Inouye, the widow of late Sen. Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii), has an interesting Op-Ed article in the Asahi Shimbun on "Japanese Americans can be bridge between U.S., Japan."

I thought it was a good Op-Ed piece and it prompted a reply by yours truly.

Inouye's article begins with:

The rise of China has led some to believe that the United States has begun to make light of Japan, but that is an overly simplified view. Japanese Americans can play a crucial role in bridging relations between the United States and Japan. As an American of Japanese descent born in the United States, I want to broaden the relationship of other Asian Americans and women to Japan, ensuring a broad mutual understanding. 

The mission of the U.S.-Japan Council is to create a strong and sustained people-to-people relationship at the government, business and civil society levels. We believe that, in the long term, leaders who know each other can not only work together on opportunities for new aspects of U.S.-Japan relations, but also support each other when there are difficulties in the relationship. 

When we founded the U.S.-Japan Council in 2008 and opened our office in Washington, D.C., in 2009, people talked about “Japan passing,” a phrase used to describe the rise of China and the ensuing loss of interest in Japan by the United States. Many of us believed that that was not the case. We knew that there were people who were very interested in Japan, and that it was just not that visible because there were other bilateral relationships that the United States had, with China, South Korea or other countries. We established the council with the belief that we had to be much more visible about the opportunities and importance of the U.S.-Japan relationship.

My response was that if there was a lack of interest in Japan in the United State, it was that Japanese-Americans have been lax in being a "bridge" to Japan for a long time, but all that seems to be changing in recent years. 

Above, a taiko drum performance at Little Tokyo's 2014 Oshogatsu celebration. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I wrote:

Interesting article. It is great that Japanese-Americans are (finally?) getting active to be that "bridge" to Japan. It seemed to me that they have been somewhat lax during the past few decades in being a bridge to Japan as well as Japanese culture. 

I worked for California State Assemblyman Paul T. Bannai, who was the first Japanese-American elected to the California legislature. It was in that position I was exposed to and came to appreciate the Japanese-Americans in Bannai's district (primarily Gardena, California) in the 1970s. The Japanese-Americans were vibrant and active in their community. Then, in later years, things seemed to go into the doldrums. The Japanese-American enclave, Little Tokyo in Los Angeles, appeared to be becoming neglected. Many wondered if it would even survive. Recently, it seems to be making a comeback with more culturally-oriented activists involved and events held.  

Unfortunately, the annual Japan Expo in Los Angeles seems to have died off. It was one of the most enjoyable annual shows. I don't know if it was the Great Recession or lack of interest that did it in, but it is a show that I miss going to. 

I would like to see more Japanese-Americans pick up the torch and get things moving again in the U.S. Ms. Inouye's group is a good start.

Above, former Assemblyman Paul Bannai and Armand in Little Tokyo, New Year's Day 2014.

To read Ms. Inouye's article, go here. 

2013 Marks 40 Years Since Bannai Special Election

Above, Governor Reagan with the Bannai family during the special election campaign..

Forty years ago in 1973, the GOP took an assembly district that was considered "safe" to the Democratic Party in a special election.

The special election was called for as the incumbent state assemblyman, Larry Townsend, suddenly passed away of a massive heart attack.    The district was the 67th Assembly District.

The primary campaign began with a number of Democrats contesting for their party's nomination, to be held in May with the general election to be held in June. 

On the Republican side, there were three candidates, George Reis (who ran unsuccessfully against Townsend the year before), Mike Halliwell and Gardena City Councilman Paul T. Bannai.

The district included Hawthorne, Lawndale, Gardena, Torrance and parts of unincorporated county areas.

At the time, I was a student at El Camino College at the "ripe old age" of 19.  I had worked in the Nixon campaign in Hawthorne the previous year and after that election, things were kind of dull outside of studies.  I was also working at Old Towne Mall (now gone) in Torrance at the time.

At El Camino, a group of us from the Nixon campaign banded together to form the Young Republicans.   (We formally applied for a charter with the Los Angeles County Young Repubicans (LACYR) during this time.)  We discussed the upcoming special election campaign and we agreed that Bannai had the best chance to win with his name recognition and his ability to raise funds for the campaign.  So, we all got involved in the Bannai for Assembly campaign.

As we figured, Bannai won the GOP nomination.  On the Democrat side, Torrance City Treasurer Thomas Rupert (left) won his party's nomination.  However, what people didn't know at the time, he didn't actually live in the 67th Assembly District.

Rupert rented an apartment in the 67th district in order to run for the assembly seat while still maintaining his actual residence outside of it.

Fortunately, we had some excellent and experienced campaign management who saw this as an opportunity to put Rupert on the defensive.  The campaign arranged to have Rupert's in-district apartment photographed as well as his real residence, a single-unit house. 

The Gods must have been on our side when our photographer went to Rupert's home; he photographed it with a car parked in the driveway with a Rupert bumper sticker.

The Democrats have a history of having opportunistic candidates "carpetbagging" their way into other districts.  (Bannai had to face another carpetbagger in 1974 by the name of Maurice "Jack" Mayesh, who was backed by the Henry Waxman-Howard Berman machine.  One can see how pleased I was when Berman was defeated by Brad Sherman last year.)

The Bannai campaign sent out numerous mailers showing the in-district apartment and the out-of-district home with the question boldly asking, "Should our elected officials obey the law?" 

Governor Ronald Reagan and Lt. Governor Ed Reinecke made appearances in support of the Bannai campaign.

As it turned out, the voters didn't think too highly of the carpetbagging issue and Bannai won the special general election by a comfortable margin (54% to 41%).  Plus, it didn't hurt that Bannai was a popular city councilman in Gardena with a lot of name recognition.

Above, Diane Booth and Armand discussing the chartering of the Young Republican of El Camino College with  David Lorenzen, LACYR Chairman at the Ambassador Hotel in June 1973.  Photo courtesy of The Trunkline.

A week or so after the election, while at a political picnic, Bannai asked me to join his district office staff as a field representative.  This I did (on and off, college permitting) for the following two years.   It was while serving in this capacity that I "learned the ropes" of press relations, which has come in handy in the succeeding years.

Above, Field Representative Armand Vaquer (left) presents Assemblyman Bannai with a
stuffed frog novelty he picked up during a vacation in September 1974.  

In 1974, the redistricting of California legislative districts put Bannai into the newly-formed 53^rd Assembly District.  This new district did not favor the Republican Party as much as the old 67^th District in registration.  But Bannai was able to hold onto his office until 1980 when he ran against an aide to State Senator Ralph Dills, Richard Floyd (a rather crude and buffoonish character, but that’s still another story).

It was while I was listening to the radio and some songs came on from that period that jogged my memory.   It suddenly hit me that this year will be the 40th anniversary of that special election victory.

UPDATE:  I sent this blog post to the Gardena Valley News.  Perhaps they will do their own story on the 40th anniverary of the Bannai special election.  We (in Bannai's district office) used to have a lot of contact with the Gardena Valley News, particularly with Polly Warfield.  She was one great lady!

Back In The Day...

Above, with Assemblyman Bannai in his Capitol office in Sacramento, 1977.

The big news in California today about state Controller John Chiang's decision to withhold the legislature's pay brings me back to the 1970s when I worked off and on as a field representative to then-Assemblyman Paul T. Bannai.

Back in those days, there was more cooperation between the majority Democrat members with the minority Republicans. Bannai was first elected in 1973 in a special election to fill the vacancy caused by the sudden passing of Democratic Assemblyman Larry Townsend. The Assembly District (first as the 67th and later as the 53rd) covered Gardena, Lawndale, Hawthorne and some parts of Torrance in the South Bay area of Los Angeles County.

Bannai, the first Japanese-American elected to the California legislature, was a realtor and Gardena City Councilman before he won the assembly seat as a Republican. After he won the special election, he asked me to be one of his two field representatives for his district office. I was a student at El Camino College at the time and lived in Hawthorne.

It was as a field representative that I learned press relations work and handled constituent matters. It was a great learning experience.

Bannai served as state assemblyman until 1980. After this, he joined the Reagan Administration at the Veterans' Administration.