Rosenthal Has Few Worries Running as Unabashed Liberal

At a time when many Democrats are attempting to redefine their political philosophies, state Sen. Herschel Rosenthal (D-Los Angeles) has no problem referring to himself as a liberal.

He was a liberal before the conservative tide swept President Reagan into the White House and Gov. George Deukmejian into the top elective post in California. And, thanks to the political makeup of his district, Rosenthal remains a liberal.

“I do not have to agonize over the term liberal,” said Rosenthal, 68, in an interview in his West Los Angeles office. “As far back as I can remember, the vast majority of people in the 22nd District have supported Democratic liberals.

‘Liberal Spirit Remains’

“Whatever has happened nationally with the election of President Reagan and other conservatives such as Deukmejian, the liberal spirit has remained at the local level in the Assembly and state Senate. I and a few others have thus been able to advocate liberal positions on issues.”

The 22nd state Senate District includes some of the area’s most liberal communities, among them Encino, Studio City, Beverly Hills, Westwood, Santa Monica and a large part of Venice.

The registration figures favor the Democrats. Of the 354,636 registered voters, 205,388 (58%) are Democrats, and 113,357 (32%) are Republicans, with 29,945 (8.4%) declining to state.

Rosenthal has represented the district since 1982, after serving eight years as the assemblyman in the 45th District. His predecessors in the 22nd include Democratic liberals Richard Richards, Alan Sieroty and Anthony C. Beilenson.

Foe Nearly Invisible

Barring a major upset on Nov. 4, Rosenthal will have four more years to continue his work on a variety of issues: opposing capital punishment and attempts to limit free speech and supporting increased state financing for education and programs for senior citizens and low-income people.

The Republican candidate, Daniel Ward Sias, a Westwood businessman and engineer, has been all but invisible a month before the Nov. 4 election. Neither the state nor county Republican committee could provide his telephone number.

He did list a telephone number when he filed for the primary, but it turned out to be the number of a political-consulting firm that handled Democratic candidates. The manager of the apartment complex that Sias listed as his residence did not recognize Sias’ name.

Joseph A. Russell, a West Los Angeles engineer and the Libertarian Party candidate, also could not be reached.

Abby Kirk, 41, Santa Monica medical transcriber and standard-bearer of the Peace and Freedom Party, said she entered the race because of her concern about the nuclear arms race.

“I have nothing against Mr. Rosenthal,” she said. “I just believe that people should have some choices in electing public officials. I’m new at seeking election, so I do not know what my chances are.”

Help to Other Campaigns

In the absence of any apparent active campaign against him, Rosenthal plans to funnel most of his $90,000 campaign war chest to other state Senate campaigns and to voter-registration drives in his district.

“I want to do what I can to elect other Democrats so that we can continue to help the less fortunate, including the aged, blind and handicapped,” Rosenthal said. “I do not want to see the Republicans gain a majority in the Senate.”

Rosenthal has long been active in Democratic Party politics, working on the campaign of, among others, Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley, who appointed him to the board of the Community Redevelopment Agency in 1973.

Helped Elect Waxman

A partner in an advertising typography plant for 30 years, Rosenthal helped elect Henry A. Waxman to the Assembly in 1968, giving birth to the so-called Berman-Waxman political organization. Waxman now is a congressman, as is Rep. Howard L. Berman (D-Studio City).

When Waxman gave up his 45th District Assembly seat in 1974 to run for Congress, he suggested that Rosenthal succeed him. “I spent a few sleepless nights before deciding to run,” Rosenthal said. He was victorious then and was reelected three times before giving up the seat to run in the 22nd Senate District.

“One of my conditions for running was that my wife would come with me if I was elected,” Rosenthal said. “I wasn’t about to go to Sacramento alone. When she agreed to go with me, I sold my business and got into politics directly.” Rosenthal’s wife, Pat, now works for her husband as an unpaid aide.

Rosenthal laughs at references to the “Berman-Waxman machine.”

“I know that Henry does not like the phrase,” Rosenthal said, “but my only regret is that it is not called the Berman-Waxman-Rosenthal machine. We do not agree on everything, but we are friends and are generally on the same political wavelength.”

22nd Senate District Race at a Glance

Party Registration:

Total, 354,636

Democrats, 205,388

(58%)

Republicans, 113,357

(32%)

Other, 5,946 (1.6%)

Decline to state, 29,945

(8.4%)

Communities: Woodland Hills, Encino, Sherman Oaks, Studio City, Beverly Hills, Century City, Culver City, Venice, Mar Vista, Pico-Robertson, Fox Hills, Santa Monica, Pacific Palisades, Westwood, Brentwood and West Los Angeles.

Incumbent: Herschel Rosenthal, Democrat, 68, four years in Senate.

Challengers: Abby Kirk, 41, Peace and Freedom Party, medical transcriber, Santa Monica.

Daniel W. Sias, Republican Party, businessman-engineer, Westwood.

Joseph A. Russell, Libertarian Party, engineer, West Los Angeles.