Ronka Will Not Oppose Wachs in 2nd District

Former Los Angeles City Councilman Bob Ronka, who was expected to pose a serious challenge to Councilman Joel Wachs, withdrew his name Tuesday from the list of potential candidates in the April 14 election in the new East San Fernando Valley district created by council redistricting last year.

But, as he eliminated himself from the race, Ronka took the opportunity to take a swipe at his would-be opponent for what he termed Wachs’ “poor record” in his old district and urged community activists to enter the race.

“I believe Joel potentially has real problems in this district,” said Ronka, who represented much of what is now the district before he gave up his seat in 1981 to run unsuccessfully for city attorney.

Ronka cited personal reasons for his decision, including his mother’s ill health.

Uphill Battle for Funds

But it was also known that he was facing an uphill battle in matching Wachs’ formidable campaign fund, which topped $635,000 in June. Ronka not only would have had to start from scratch in raising funds but would have been hampered by a 1985 city law that limits campaign contributions to $500 a donor while allowing incumbents to use money collected over a long period.

Ronka said he was prepared to challenge the law.

With Ronka out of the running, no other candidate mentioned appears to give Wachs reason to worry. Jerry Hays, president of the United Chambers of Commerce of the San Fernando Valley, said he plans to run against Wachs. When Hays ran against Wachs in 1983, he finished second in a field of five, with 10% of the vote. Wachs won with 75% of the vote.

Wachs, reached at City Hall for comment, said he is glad that Ronka is not running. “One always wants less opponents,” Wachs said. He attributed Ronka’s criticism of him to his refusal to endorse Ronka in the city attorney’s race. He said that most of the criticism from his old district came from a few politically ambitious homeowner leaders.

Urged to Run

Ronka said he had been urged to enter the race by many of his former constituents, as well as many homeowner leaders in Wachs’ old district “who found Wachs to be inaccessible, insensitive and unresponsive to their needs during the years he served as their councilman.”

Ronka was succeeded on the council by Howard Finn, whose death last August prompted the council to approve a revised redistricting plan that became law over bitter opposition from Valley residents. Finn’s 1st District, which had been left intact in the initial redistricting, was apportioned between Wachs and Councilman Ernani Bernardi to prevent a political life-and-death struggle between Councilmen John Ferraro and Michael Woo, who had been thrown into the same district.

Response to Lawsuit

The city came up with a redistricting plan in an effort to settle a U. S. Justice Department lawsuit seeking increased Latino representation on the council.

The new Y-shaped 2nd District, more conservative than Wachs’ former district, takes in all of Sunland-Tujunga, including Shadow Hills, most of Van Nuys and parts of North Hollywood, Studio City, Sepulveda and Sun Valley.

Recently, Wachs has been working hard to make himself known and popular in his new district. He said he has appeared before more than 100 groups in the district since he acquired it in September. He often has been accompanied by Anne Finn, widow of former Councilman Finn, and Councilman Bernardi.

Six council members are seeking reelection in the April 14 election. Besides Wachs, they are Richard Alatorre, John Ferraro, Pat Russell, Robert Farrell and Hal Bernson. Russell faces a potentially difficult campaign because of homeowner opposition to her support of development in the Los Angeles International Airport-area district. There has been no indication that the others face strong opposition.

Another seat, that vacated by Councilman Dave Cunningham, is to be filled in the election. Many candidates have indicated an interest in succeeding Cunningham, who resigned to enter private business.

Filing of declarations by candidates closes at noon Saturday at City Hall.