50 Prominent Valley Backers Rally for Mayor

Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley on Thursday brought together a diverse group of about 50 prominent San Fernando Valley residents to counter claims made by his chief opponent in the April 9 election, City Councilman John Ferraro, that the black, liberal mayor has little support in the predominantly white, conservative Valley.

“I have known all along that there was this kind of support for Tom Bradley in the Valley,” said the mayor, who was standing near a map stuck with blue-and-white “Mayor Tom Bradley” campaign buttons designating where in the Valley those who had gathered for the event resided.

According to Bradley’s staff, those present included officials of chambers of commerce, homeowners’ associations, labor and industry groups and other ethnic and religious organizations in the Valley.

Support From Republicans

Also at the early-morning event, staged for the media at his Van Nuys campaign office, were a number of Republicans who said they voted against Bradley, a Democrat, when he ran unsuccessfully for governor in 1982, but support his reelection to the nonpartisan mayor’s office.

“I think he’s an excellent mayor,” said Terri Asanovich, vice president of the United Chambers of Commerce. Asanovich said she voted for Gov. George Deukmejian because he had more statewide experience.

Speaking to the group, Bradley cited, among his accomplishments in the Valley, construction of a shopping center in Pacoima and a sewage treatment plant in the Sepulveda Basin, establishment of projects to revitalize the North Hollywood, Reseda and Van Nuys business districts and support of development of Warner Center in Woodland Hills.

Asked what Bradley did specifically, Doris (Dodo) Meyer, the mayor’s administrative aide in the Valley, said later in an interview that Bradley lobbied to obtain city approval or federal funding for projects. Although acknowledging that any mayor could have done the same, Meyer said that no other mayor has been as aggressive--and successful--as Bradley.

Bradley also said he has appointed a greater number of Valley residents to city boards and commissions and established a mayor’s field office in the Valley.

Bernson Disputes Claims

No one from Ferraro’s campaign could be reached for comment. But West Valley Councilman Hal Bernson, who has endorsed Ferraro, said, “I’m sure John can come up with his own impressive list of supporters.

“The problem with the mayor is that he takes credit for everything,” Bernson added, disputing Bradley’s claims of accomplishments in the Valley.

“The only time the people in Chatsworth have ever seen Bradley is when he came out to ride in the (last Christmas) parade because he was up for reelection,” Bernson said.