Only Politician Among 12 Honored : Magazine Names Picus Woman of Year

It’s something of a local politician’s dream: a glowing profile in a national magazine. Even the politician in question, Los Angeles City Councilwoman Joy Picus, said she was unaccustomed to the kind of unwavering enthusiasm shown in the article in the January issue of Ms. Magazine. It listed Picus as one of the publication’s 12 women of the year for 1985.

“As an elected official, whenever anybody writes about you, they usually give both sides. But this was all positive,” said Picus, who represents the 3rd Council District, encompassing Canoga Park, Reseda, west Van Nuys and parts of Tarzana and Woodland Hills.

The Ms. article credits Picus with helping bring about a $12-million pay equity agreement in May between the City of Los Angeles and 3,900 of its employees, most of them female.

The magazine’s other women of the year for 1985, the third year Ms. has had such a list, include comedian Lily Tomlin; Patti Davis, President Reagan’s daughter who is described as “actress, activist, author,” and Suzanne de Passe, president of Motown Productions. Picus is the only politician.

Of the San Fernando Valley councilwoman, the magazine says: “At 55, Joy Picus calls herself a ‘recycled woman,’ a feminist who ‘didn’t know there was life after 40,’ ” but then won a seat on the council in 1977.

The magazine said the list was based on news coverage of major events during the previous year and suggestions from “readers, colleagues and friends.”

Of author Joy Horowitz, Picus said, “I thought she did a wonderful job, I must say.”