Can a Latino overcome the Kennedy dynasty in LA?

A local political campaign in Los Angeles has pitted the fabled Kennedy clan against Hispanics, long one of the family’s most loyal supporters but now trying to flex their muscle in an important test of Latino power.

SEE ALSO: Eric Garcetti’s Latino roots challenged in Los Angeles mayor’s race

On Tuesday, Hispanics — now almost half of the county’s population — will trying to win an unprecedented second seat on the five-member Board of Supervisors who wield such enormous influence they are known locally as the “five little kings.”

But their hopes have been dampened by the candidacy of Bobby Shriver, the nephew of President John F. Kennedy who has already poured $1 million from his own personal fortune while rejecting voluntary campaign spending limits, thus allowing him to spend unlimited amounts of his own money.

The Shriver money, nearly $1.9 million including contributions, is almost five times the campaign funds raised by John Duran, the longtime West Hollywood Councilman and son of a Latina activist in Southern California.

In recent days, Latino leaders have been trying to put the skids on the Shriver candidacy.

Speaking with residents, family and friends at #KingsleyManor about shaking up #CTWGOV #VoteJune3rd pic.twitter.com/mlAbaWpfbf

— Bobby Shriver (@bobbyshriver) May 28, 2014

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, the grandson of Mexican immigrants, and retiring Supervisor Gloria Molina have both given Duran their coveted high-profile endorsements, though he has little time, or money, to spread the news to voters.

“I will take it!” Duran said. “Hope it’s not too late to matter.”

But the development is indicative of how Latinos, who had no representation on the Board of Supervisors until 1991, may have failed to fully capitalize on the opportunity.

In Tuesday’s elections, Molina expects to be succeeded in her seat representing the heavily Latino Eastside and San Gabriel Valley by Hilda Solis, the former congresswoman and labor secretary who is heavily favored despite a federal inquiry into fundraising activities.

Molina is stepping down because of term limitations as is Zev Yaroslavsky in a district that covers the Los Angeles Westside and much of the San Fernando Valley – the seat Duran is seeking.

There are eight candidates in the non-partisan race, though there are only three given a realistic chance of either winning outright or going into a runoff: Shriver, Duran and former State Senator Sheila Kuehl, who has raised $1.2 million in campaign funds and potentially puts Duran on the outside looking in.

Shriver has his own Latino backing, including the endorsement of the Mexican American Bar Association and Dolores Huerta, co-founder of the United Farm Workers Union.

But Duran, 54, is unswayed by the obstacles.

“I’ve been in David and Goliath situations before in my life,” says Duran, who grew up in East Los Angeles and went on to become a criminal defense lawyer.

Local experts say they wouldn’t be surprised to see Duran upset the form chart.

“He’s got an outside shot to make the runoff,” says Raphe Sonenshein, director of the Pat Brown Institute for Public Affairs at Cal State Los Angeles. “He’s in the conversation.”

Why Latinos in Los Angeles didn’t get behind Duran’s candidacy in stronger fashion earlier in the campaign is bewildering.

Duran is an enigma to some because, though he has been a big champion of gay rights, he is more conservative than most Latino politicians – and even Shriver — on many issues.

“Once, someone came up to me and said, ‘If you’d told me the most moderate candidate in this campaign is the gay Latino from West Hollywood, I would’ve laughed,’” Duran recalled in a recent interview. “It’s possible, however, to be pro-business and pro-economic development and still be liberal on social issues.”

Some say his candidacy has been slow in catching on with Latinos because the district Duran is running in is not an area usually associated with Hispanics, except that Latinos now comprise 48 percent of the county.

Despite Duran’s East L.A. background, others say traditional Latino leaders there don’t know him and have been hesitant to get on board.

Then there is a part of Duran’s background that troubles some conservative Hispanics.

“There are four HIV positive elected officials in the United States today,” Duran, who is openly gay, told a voter forum recently. “I’m one of the four.”

But now Garcetti and Molina are hoping they can help Duran get into a two-candidate runoff, most likely with a Kennedy political heir, Bobby Shriver.

Molina says Duran is a Latino politician “who represents a younger generation of leadership.”

“He has a proven track record of delivering high-quality municipal services as a West Hollywood City Councilman,” she says, “and has a well-earned reputation for being in touch with all of his constituents.”

Garcetti was equally high in his praise.

“John isn’t afraid to make the tough choices,” said Garcetti, “and as our next supervisor, we can count on him to be a watchdog over county government by ensuring we are getting the most from our tax dollars.”

Duran says he remains positive about his chances and remembers other uphill campaigns, such as crusading for the LGBT community’s right to marry.

“I was always being told, ‘It can’t be done,’” he says, “but we decided to go for it anyway. I’m very proud of those accomplishments because they show my character, and those of the other men and women involved.

“We were called upon do to extraordinary work at extraordinary chapters in our country’s history.”

SEE ALSO: What Eric Garcetti’s triumph in Los Angeles means for Latinos