Not long after W. Brad Parton was elected mayor of Redondo Beach three years ago, it became clear that his conservative brand of Republican politics had much in common with the religious right.
Parton, then just 29, quickly made a name for himself. A “born-again” Christian, he declared war on adult magazines sold at news racks. He demanded that a South Bay adult school teaching a New Age religion course also offer Bible studies.
When Planned Parenthood supporters rented a meeting room at a Redondo Beach bank, the mayor, who opposes abortion, called a bank officer to complain. The group’s use of the facility was canceled.
Parton stirred controversy again in May when he opposed issuance of a liquor permit for a gay pride event in a city park and was accused of bigotry by a City Council colleague.
Less than a month later, aided by substantial financial backing from a group of…
