At a recent debate of the two candidates for the 23rd state Senate district nomination from the eastern San Fernando Valley, Democratic Assemblywoman Sheila Kuehl said she believes education is a top issue, but doesn’t support breaking up the L.A. Unified School District. Her Democratic opponent, Assemblyman Wally Knox, countered with his view he believes education needs to be improved, but doesn’t support breakup of the LAUSD. Welcome to state election season, when differences can be hard to find between candidates. “Everyone seems to kind of feel the same on issues,” said Cathy McGuire, chair of the Valley Industry and Commerce Association, which has hosted two forums for state primary candidates. Forget November. For many state elections in the San Fernando Valley, the March 7 primary vote is what really matters. Party winners are practically guaranteed to win come November, because most seats sway heavily Democratic or heavily Republican. The most competitive races involve the following candidates for Senate and Assembly: – Kuehl, D-Encino, faces Assemblyman Knox, D-Los Angeles, for a Senate seat that covers parts of Woodland Hills, Sherman Oaks, Calabasas and Studio City, and is currently held by Sen. Tom Hayden. In one of the Valley’s most hotly contested races, both Kuehl and Knox have centered the debate on transportation improvements and personal style. Kuehl has highlighted her ability to work with liberals and conservatives alike, as well as her leadership experience in Sacramento. Knox positions himself as someone who won’t back down from a tough fight. Kuehl has pushed legislation through to protect land in the Santa Monica Mountains. She has won endorsements from Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., and Gov. Gray Davis. Knox helped win funding for expansion of the 101/405 interchange. He has won Mayor Richard Riordan’s endorsement. – Assemblyman Tom McClintock, R-Northridge, faces Ventura County supervisor and former Simi Valley City Councilwoman Judy Mikels for the 19th Senate district’s Republican nomination. This race has become more personal than the others, with Mikels calling McClintock a carpetbagger and attacking his record on public spending. McClintock is pushing for more highway tax dollars to build more and better freeways. Mikels says there should be a variety of transportation such as light rail, high-speed rail systems and shuttles. – Assemblyman Jack Scott, D-Pasadena, is running against Assemblyman Scott Wildman, D-Burbank, in the 21st Senate district, which covers Burbank and Sunland-Tujunga and the eastern San Fernando Valley. Whoever wins the primary still faces a fight in November against Republican candidate Dave Wallis or South Pasadena City Councilman Paul Zee. Both Wildman and Scott have focused on transportation and education issues. Scott has called for a transit bond and expansion of public transportation, including the Pasadena Blue Line. Wildman is pushing for use of new technology to improve the transit system. – In the 41st Assembly district, which covers portions of Encino, Calabasas, Agoura Hills, Santa Monica and Malibu, four candidates are squaring off for the Democratic nomination. David Freeman, head of the Department of Water and Power, faces Brenda Gottfried, a Santa Monica/Malibu school board member; Fran Pavley, Agoura Hills councilwoman and die-hard environmentalist; and Tony Vazquez, a former Santa Monica City Councilman who ran United Way in the Valley. The race has focused on education issues. Freeman, who leads in fund raising with $165,000, is an early favorite. He was recruited by Riordan in 1997 to head the DWP, after heading power agencies in New York and Tennessee. He also has close ties to state and national Democratic party leaders. While the district has been a Democratic stronghold for two decades, Republican Jayne Murphy Shapiro, who heads child advocacy group Kid Safe, is expected to make a strong showing. She has loaned $276,000 to her own campaign, which will be paid off, if possible, through fund raising. Shapiro is pro-choice and wants to raise teachers’ pay and increase the number of charter schools. – In the nearby 42nd Assembly district, which covers Sherman Oaks, Universal City, Studio City and parts of Beverly Hills and Hancock Park, three candidates are running for the Democratic nomination. Amanda Susskind, a Valley activist, is pitted against West Hollywood City Councilman Paul Koretz and Beverly Hills physician Daniel Stone. – In the 43rd Assembly district, which covers Glendale, Burbank, Toluca Lake and North Hollywood, six candidates three Republicans and three Democrats are vying for their parties’ nomination. On the Democratic side, lawyer Dario Frommer, lawyer Paul Krekorian and USC associate vice president of health affairs John Hisserich will face off. On the Republican side, lawyer Craig Missakian, lawyer Mark MacCarley and small-business owner Liz Michael will face off. In all these races, the big Valley issues have centered around improving education, including splitting up the LAUSD, and easing traffic congestion. “As a result of the forums, what keeps coming up is transportation and the gridlock system we’re in now and not just the 101/405 but actually moving people from one end of the Valley to the other,” said McGuire. VICA is pressing for a separate Valley transportation zone and expansion of LAX.
