Westside and Valley Democrats Agree on Friedman for Assembly

In the tony 43rd Assembly District, a primary showdown between voters in the San Fernando Valley and voters on the Westside never materialized Tuesday.

Democratic voters on both sides of the Santa Monica Mountains flocked overwhelmingly to Terry Friedman, the executive director of a Westside legal services office. Because Democrats have a big edge in voters registered in the district, Friedman’s primary victory virtually assures him of winning the seat in November.

Rosemary Woodlock, an attorney and longtime resident of Woodland Hills, had claimed during her campaign that Valley residents were tired of having their lawmakers provided from the south side of the mountains.

But the voters proved her wrong.

56% in 3-Way Race

Friedman captured 56% of the vote in the three-way Democratic race. Woodlock came in second with 25% of the vote, and Bruce Margolin, a West Hollywood attorney and the Southern California director of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, got 20%.

Although a complete precinct-by-precinct breakdown of the vote was not available Wednesday, figures from parts of the Valley showed Friedman did very well. For instance, in 372 precincts in the Encino area, Friedman received 4,699 votes to Woodlock’s 2,361. Margolin trailed with 1,831.

Friedman was considered the front-runner for the seat being vacated by Assemblyman Gray Davis (D-Los Angeles) because of the support of an influential Democratic coalition headed by Reps. Henry A. Waxman of Los Angeles and Howard L. Berman of Panorama City.

The mood was festive Tuesday night at Friedman’s Sherman Oaks campaign headquarters, bedecked with red, white and blue streamers. A large crowd had gathered to toast the candidate’s resounding victory.

Standing among supporters, Friedman, dressed in a gray suit, gave a cautious victory speech as the early results become known.

“At the risk of being optimistic, which goes against my nature, it looks as if I’m going to win tonight,” he said.

Friedman raised nearly a quarter of a million dollars, far more than his opponents, and vigorously campaigned for the seat that has become known as a political springboard.

On Wednesday, Woodlock could not be reached for comment. Margolin pledged to support Friedman.

Friedman’s Opposition

Friedman’s Republican opponent will be Marc P. Schuyler, a student at Caltech, who received 58% of the GOP vote in a two-way race. Lou Steeg, a retiree affiliated with political extremist Lyndon LaRouche, won 42%.

In other contested Valley legislative races, the winner of the Republican primary in the 40th Assembly District has not yet been settled.

When counting ended Wednesday, Brian K. Dennis, a tax preparer and real estate and insurance broker, was leading Bruce Dahl, owner of a wallpaper store, by only 15 votes.

Dahl said absentee ballots that were cast Tuesday had not been counted yet, so it is possible he will eventually be declared the winner. But Dennis said he is confident he will prevail.

Winning the GOP primary is a dubious honor in the 40th Assembly District, which includes Van Nuys and parts of North Hollywood, Encino, Reseda and Northridge. The Democratic incumbent, Tom Bane of Tarzana, is well entrenched and protected by a campaign war chest exceeding a half million dollars.

In the Democratic primary in the 36th Assembly District, Frank Nekimken, 71, a retired youth counselor, handily won with 74% of the vote. His opponent, Paul Golis, 67, a retired attorney, developer and author, received 24%.

Nekimken will face almost certain defeat in November when he faces the incumbent, Assemblyman Tom McClintock (R-Thousand Oaks) in that overwhelmingly Republican district.

In the 45th Assembly District, Jana Olson, with 54% of the vote, beat fellow Republican Gerald B. Broderson with 46% to face Assemblyman Burt Margolin (D-Los Angeles) for the seat considered safe for Democrats.

In the 20th District state Senate race, Sen. Alan Robbins (D-Van Nuys), who was unopposed, will face Republican underdog Lynn Robert Davis, a businessman. Davis beat his GOP opponent, Arra Haigazian, 60% to 31%.

Staff Writers Alan Citron and Stephen Braun assisted in preparation of this story