A Los Angeles neighborhood becomes the battleground for blue-collar, Latino housepainter Gustavo Alvarez (Paul Rodriguez) and well-organized, black political insider Lucinda Davis (C.C.H. Pounder) in this colorful social satire. The two campaign against each other for a city council seat vacated by the retiring Jack Durman (Cliff Robertson). With votes split along racial lines, the debate soon turns into a war of ugly mudslinging.