Russell Defeat : Picus Aims for Council Presidency

Hours after Los Angeles City Councilwoman Pat Russell was defeated in her bid for reelection, San Fernando Valley Councilwoman Joy Picus began hustling her colleagues’ support to succeed Russell as council president.

“If Pat had been reelected to the council, she would be counting her votes for council president,” Picus said. “But, since she wasn’t, I’m out counting mine.”

Councilwoman Joan Milke Flores, now president pro tem, said Wednesday that she also plans to campaign for council president--”as soon as I can.”

The behind-the-scenes maneuvering for the presidency came one day after Russell was ousted by Ruth Galanter in the Westside’s 6th District. The election of Galanter, whose campaign focused on Russell’s support of development, followed last year’s voter approval of a slow-growth initiative and was seen Wednesday as further evidence of a revolt by largely middle-class homeowners against overdevelopment in the city.

Development an Issue

Some council members said Wednesday that they expect the development issue to play a role in the election for council president. Speaking on the condition that they not be named, some council members who advocate slow growth said they favor the liberal-to-moderate Picus over Flores, who is regarded as more pro-development.

The council president appoints members to committees, including the Planning and Environment Committee, which helps shape development projects.

Picus’ chances of winning the job also are boosted by her membership in the liberal Democratic majority on the council. Flores is a conservative Republican.

Others, however, said they believe the election will come down to the candidates’ personalities and who can get along best with other council members.

The president will be elected to a two-year term by the 15-member council on July 1.

Key to Political Future

Besides making committee assignments, the president also presides over council meetings and serves as the city’s chief executive in the mayor’s absence.

The president can play a key role in determining a council member’s political future through committee assignments. The Planning and Environment Committee, for example, is considered a plum assignment, since it brings high visibility and a lucrative source of campaign contributions. The council president usually rewards supporters with choice committee assignments.

Others mentioned by council members as possible candidates for council president were Hal Bernson of the San Fernando Valley and John Ferraro of the Wilshire District. Both said Wednesday that they have no plans to seek the job, but would not refuse a draft.

Picus said she began speaking privately to some of her colleagues “first thing this morning” and received “a few commitments already.” She refused to identify whom she spoke with or to elaborate on their discussions.

Picus, 56, was a suburban homemaker when she defeated former Councilman Donald Lorenzen to win election to the West San Fernando Valley’s 3rd District in 1977. She was described early in her political career as the Mary Poppins of the City Council because of her always-smiling, schoolmarm demeanor. She has since become a strong-willed, seasoned politician who was recently honored as one of 12 “Women of the Year” by Ms. Magazine.

Picus said that, if elected council president, she has no plans to use the highly visible job to run for mayor, a position that should make her more palatable to those council members with mayoral aspirations.

Flores, 51, worked for the late Council President John S. Gibson Jr. for 25 years before she was elected to succeed him in 1981 from the Harbor area’s 15th District. Flores is well-liked by her colleagues, but is not considered a mayoral candidate in the near future and has expressed no interest in that office.