Dennis Struggling in Effort to Unseat Bane

At a recent Democratic outing in a Reseda park, longtime Assemblyman Tom Bane (D-Tarzana) sat astride a picnic table and stretched a political truth.

“I don’t think there’s any such thing as a safe seat,” he said.

But there obviously is. All indications from other quarters are that Bane’s 40th Assembly District, at least, is not only safe but probably one of the safest seats in the state. Even Brian Dennis, Bane’s 31-year-old Republican challenger, acknowledged that his battle is “uphill” all the way against the 17-year incumbent.

Having beaten his last two GOP opponents by 2-to-1 margins in the last two elections, the lanky, 72-year-old Bane has built a powerful base of support in a district he describes as “classic middle-Californian” in its politics.

Still, Bane is taking no chances. He has nearly $500,000 at the start of his campaign--100 times Dennis’ current war chest. And, in an apparent bow to Bane’s dominance in the district, the GOP so far hasn’t come through with any big dollars to help Dennis out.

Since January, Bane has received contributions from sources as diverse as the California Teachers Assn., the California Teamsters, Anheuser Busch, the California Highway Patrol’s Political Action Committee and the Tobacco Institute.

Banks, Savings and Loans

But, as always, the key source of Bane’s campaign wealth is a long list of contributions from banks and savings and loans. In what has become a consistent refrain in any Bane race, his Republican challenger is labeling the Democratic incumbent “banking’s favorite son,” criticizing Bane’s close association with banking.

Bane took what turned out to be a 10-year break from his career as assemblyman in 1964, during which he spent several years as a savings and loan trade association executive.

After returning to the Assembly, Bane ended up a member of the influential Finance, Insurance and Commerce Committee, which screens banking legislation. This panel is one of the so-called “juice” committees in Sacramento, so named because members have traditionally been able to squeeze sizable campaign contributions from industries seeking access and favorable legislation.

Bane, as always, responded to the charges by saying that his expertise in banking is an asset to the district, and that, in any case, his stance is not “pro-bank” but “pro-housing,” since banks finance home loans. He also predicted that his opponent would receive last-minute support from East Coast banks through the efforts of Assembly Minority Leader Pat Nolan (R-Glendale).

“That’s where Brian Dennis is going to get his money: Citicorp and other Eastern banks,” Bane said.

Other Democrats Benefit

Primarily because of the largess of banks, Bane has consistently had sufficient funds to donate money to fellow Democrats in need. Bane, who is assistant Speaker pro tem of the Assembly, has also contributed substantially this year to the Democratic legislative campaign fund controlled by Assembly Speaker Willie Brown (D-San Francisco). Brown, in turn, will distribute money to legislators whose campaigns are in trouble.

The money Bane retains for his own campaign is going to such things as the potholders he has distributed during campaigns since 1974. The message: “Don’t get burned. Reelect Tom Bane.”

In 1984, Bane spent about $150,000 on his campaign. He won’t release any details about how he will run the current race. “When two football teams play . . . no one tells his opponent what he’s going to do,” Bane said.

The only setback Bane has had in the last two years--and one which by recent appearances he seems to have overcome--is ill health. In the winter of 1985, he was temporarily paralyzed by Guillian-Barre syndrome, probably caused by a flu shot. He missed part of the legislative session that year. However, even his opponent Dennis acknowledges that his attendance record this year has been good.

Bruising Primary

As for Dennis, he is still recovering from a bitterly fought Republican primary that he won in June by a mere 36 votes out of 16,140 cast. That race, in which he was pitted against Bruce Dahl, the owner of a Van Nuys wallpaper firm, hinged primarily on who got the endorsement of tax-reformist Howard Jarvis, who died Aug. 12.

Both had claimed such an endorsement. Dennis finally prevailed and is now distributing copies of a letter of support written during the primary by Jarvis.

Dennis, a graduate of Brandeis University and Loyola University Law School, was born and raised in North Hollywood, where he lives with his wife. The self-employed accountant and real estate and insurance broker was also raised a Democrat, and admits to voting for Bane in the past.

Dennis switched parties in 1984, he said, “not because I changed, but because the Democratic Party changed.” He said that “extreme” liberal elements have taken the reins, citing Speaker Brown’s control of the state Democratic caucus.

“Tom Bane tries to paint himself as a moderate,” Dennis said. “But the power lies with the liberal members” of the Assembly, and Bane, Dennis said, “has aligned himself with the leadership.”

Sees Liberal Fringe

Dennis added that he believes that the influence of the liberal fringe has affected the direction of the Democratic Party at the national level.

“The Louis Farrakhans and Jesse Jacksons have captured the sympathies, if not the soul, of the Democratic Party,” Dennis charged. Farrakhan is a black activist who has been repeatedly accused of encouraging violence and preaching anti-Semitism. Jackson, the dominant black leader in politics, ran for President in 1984.

Bane and Dennis take similar stands on several issues they say are key in the 40th Assembly District and the state, among them the death penalty and illegal immigration.

Both support the death penalty. And neither supports the confirmation bid by embattled state Chief Justice Rose Elizabeth Bird, whose record on capital punishment has been the major issue of her campaign.

Dennis claims that Bird has betrayed Californians by not supporting the death penalty. “The people think that the death penalty is one way they can get security,” Dennis said. “But they’re having their will flouted time after time by Rose Bird.”

Bane agreed.

“She is subject to being charged with not applying the law as passed by the Legislature,” he said.

Illegal Immigration

On illegal immigration, both candidates said something must be done, although neither offered a detailed agenda.

Dennis said that more pressure can be applied to the California’s congressmen to pass restrictive federal legislation. He also said that actions can be taken at the state level to make life more difficult for illegal aliens. For example, he said, if elected, he would look into the possibility of prohibiting the issuance of a driver’s license to anyone who cannot prove American citizenship.

Bane said that such a response is impractical and would be ineffective, in any case, because many illegal aliens drive without licenses.

Dennis, who was born just three years before Bane first took his Assembly seat in 1958, said there is one more issue that is central to his campaign: Bane’s age and his style. “At 72, Tom Bane is retired in office,” he said. “He’s adopting a low profile suitable to him but not to the Valley.”

Bane brushed aside allegations of his young Republican challenger that his age is a factor and that the district would swing Republican in post-Bane elections.

“He’ll be quite a bit older” before there will be a post-Tom Bane era, Bane said.

40th Assembly District at a Glance

Party Registration:

Total 143,769

Democrats 78,357

(54.5%)

Republicans 52,068

(36.2%)

Other 2,748 (1.9%)

Decline to State

10,596 (7.4 %)

Communities: Van Nuys and parts of North Hollywood, Reseda,

Encino and Northridge.

Incumbent: Tom Bane, Democrat, 72, 17 years in the Assembly

Challenger: Republican Brian K. Dennis, 31, self-employed accountant and insurance and real estate agent

Outlook: Bane should win reelection easily, armed with a $500,000 campaign war chest that is 100 times that of his young Republican challenger. In the last three elections in the district, Bane has beaten his Republican opponent by a 2-to-1 margin.