Political Shuffle Shapes Up for ’86 : Officeholders’ Upward Mobility Augurs Scramble in Valley Area

Rep. Bobbi Fiedler (R-Northridge) a U.S. senator? Assemblyman Tom McClintock (R-Thousand Oaks) a congressman? And Los Angeles City Councilman Hal Bernson a county supervisor?

All are possibilities in a game of political musical chairs that appears to be shaping up in the San Fernando Valley and southern Ventura County because of decisions by local Republican officials to seek higher office.

Fiedler and state Sen. Ed Davis (R-Valencia) have announced their intentions to seek the GOP nomination for the U.S. Senate seat held by Democrat Alan Cranston. And Los Angeles County Supervisor Mike Antonovich said he is thinking of running for the U.S. Senate or lieutenant governor.

Davis Has Name Recognition

All three are considered viable contenders for statewide office. Because of his former job as Los Angeles police chief, Davis leads the early polls based on name recognition. Fiedler, meanwhile, leads in fund raising, with $400,000 in her campaign war chest. Antonovich holds a highly visible position as state GOP chairman.

Speculation on the possible changes in the area’s political representation has focused on Fiedler’s congressional seat.

Unlike Davis and Antonovich, Fiedler must give up her seat to run for the Senate. Her House term expires next year and she cannot run for reelection and the U.S. Senate at the same time.

Although Fiedler has not made a formal announcement, she has been traveling throughout the state seeking support for her Senate campaign. None of the would-be candidates are committed to any particular office until the period for filing nomination papers for elective office closes next March 7.

‘Domino Effect’

Ascension to higher office by Fielder, Davis or Antonovich could trigger a “domino effect” as local officials move into seats now occupied by the three. That, in turn, would create even more political vacancies.

Among those who say they plan to run for Fiedler’s seat if it becomes vacant are McClintock and Simi Valley Mayor Elton Gallegly. McClintock would have to relinquish his southern Ventura County 36th Assembly District seat if he runs for Congress.

A number of mayors and city council members from cities in the district, including Camarillo Vice Mayor Sandi Bush, have expressed an interest in succeeding McClintock if he moves on.

Both McClintock and Gallegly have hired political consultants. McClintock has hired Ron Smith, who recently ran Councilman John Ferraro’s losing campaign for Los Angeles mayor but, before that, engineered Deane Dana’s initial upset victory in 1980 for a seat on the county Board of Supervisors. Smith also ran Dana’s successful 1984 campaign.

Gallegly has hired Ben Key, once a staff member for former Rep. Barry M. Goldwater Jr. (R-Woodland Hills).

Imbrecht May Run

Charles Imbrecht, a former assemblyman who is now chairman of the state Energy Commission, and Rep. Robert Dornan’s brother, Dick, an American history teacher at Nobel Junior High School in Woodland Hills, have said they are considering entering the race for Fiedler’s seat. Leo Thorsness, a Litton Industries executive who ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate against George McGovern (D-S.D.) in 1974, is reportedly interested in the race as well. Thorsness, a Santa Monica resident, could not be reached for comment. Congressional candidates do not have to live in the area they want to represent.

The northwest San Fernando Valley-southern Ventura County 21st Congressional District has overwhelmingly voted Republican in recent years.

Antonovich and Davis, who do not face reelection next year, can run for other offices without risking their jobs. Their fate could affect the political fortunes of other Valley-area representatives.

Assemblywomen Marian W. La Follette (R-Northridge) and Cathie Wright (R-Simi Valley) said they would run for Davis’ state Senate seat if he wins the GOP Senate nomination and goes on to defeat Cranston in the general election.

Bernson Likes Chances

Bernson, who represents the northwest Valley, said he would be interested in serving on the county Board of Supervisors if Antonovich moves up. The councilman said he believes he would have the inside track on the job because it would be filled by Gov. George Deukmejian, who is a Republican like Bernson. That would depend, of course, on whether Deukmejian is reelected.

Assembly Minority Leader Pat Nolan (R-Glendale) and former Los Angeles County District Atty. Robert Philibosian, who is now a private attorney after his defeat last year by Ira Reiner, also have been mentioned as possible candidates for Antonovich’s seat if it becomes vacant. Both men said it is premature to discuss whether they would seek the county job.

“The body isn’t cold yet,” Philibosian said. He said it is “totally inappropriate to be discussing who would succeed Antonovich” when he has not yet decided whether to run for another office. He said, however, that he believes he is closer to Deukmejian, for whom Philibosian once worked, than Bernson. County supervisors appointed Philibosian to succeed former Dist. Atty. John K. Van de Kamp, who was elected state attorney general, after heavy lobbying from Deukmejian.

An aide to Nolan, Bill Saracino, said before Nolan could make a decision, “There are three or four hurdles that have to be overcome, none of them easy.” Among them are that Antonovich must decide to run for another office, must win the Republican primary and must win the general election, Saracino said.

If a Democrat is elected governor next year, then West Valley Councilwoman Joy Picus and Nick Patsaouras, president of the Southern California Rapid Transit District board of directors, could be leading choices to succeed Antonovich if his seat opens up. Both are Democrats. Picus has expressed interest in the supervisor’s job and Patsaouras ran for the board against Antonovich and incumbent Baxter Ward in 1980.

If either Bernson or Picus was appointed to the county board, it would open up a City Council seat to be filled in a special election.

Nobody seems ready to speculate on who would fill that seat.