Local News in Brief : New Reiner Foe Surfaces

The brother of a Glendale Municipal Court commissioner who was denounced as a racist by Dist. Atty. Ira Reiner said Thursday that he plans to challenge Reiner in the June primary.

Alfred A. Calabro, 62, said he’s taking on Reiner because the district attorney “has no regard for people’s reputations” and has done nothing to reduce crime.

Last August, Reiner barred Commissioner Daniel F. Calabro from hearing criminal cases because the judicial officer had uttered a racial slur from the bench. After the commissioner was cleared of racism by the Los Angeles County Bar Assn., Reiner relented and said he would give Calabro a “second chance.” Reiner declined comment on Alfred Calabro’s candidacy.

The commissioner’s brother, a registered Republican who practices law in Glendale, denied that his challenge is a grudge match but said, “Reiner is not fit to hold office because of the things he’s pulled.” Reiner is also being challenged by one of the prosecutors in his office, Deputy Dist. Atty. Iver Bye, and feminist attorney Gloria Allred said Thursday that she still is considering entering the race. The deadline for filing is March 11.