Dukakis Does Better in Valley Than Statewide

Massachusetts Gov. Michael S. Dukakis did substantially better in the San Fernando Valley than he did statewide Tuesday and will receive 12 of the Valley area’s 15 delegates to the Democratic National Convention. The Rev. Jesse Jackson will get the remaining three delegates.

Dukakis carried the three congressional districts that cover the Valley with 71.7% to 75.6% of the vote, according to complete but unofficial results. Statewide, Dukakis won 60% and Jackson 35% with 99.6% of the vote tallied.

Although the results of Tuesday’s primary will not be official until 20 days after the election, the California Democratic Party will determine the distribution of delegates this week. The delegates are distributed according to the vote in each of the state’s congressional districts.

Dukakis defeated Jackson 72.2% to 23% in the 21st District, which includes southern Ventura County, parts of the West San Fernando Valley and Santa Catalina Island. Minor party candidates won the remaining votes.

Dukakis will receive three delegates from the district and an alternate; Jackson will get the fourth delegate, said Kathy Howard, assistant coordinator of the California Democratic Party.

In the 23rd District, which extends from Canoga Park, Reseda and Tarzana over the Santa Monica Mountains to Beverly Hills, Westwood and Malibu, Dukakis received 75.6% to Jackson’s 21%. Dukakis will get five of the district’s delegates and its two alternates; Jackson one delegate, Howard said.

Jackson’s best showing was in the 26th District, which includes the heavily black and Latino communities of Pacoima and San Fernando in the eastern San Fernando Valley. Jackson won 24.7% while Dukakis took 71.7%. Dukakis will receive four delegates and an alternate; Jackson a delegate and an alternate, Howard said.

Jackson’s showing exceeded his 1984 record when his delegate candidates received 9.8% to 11.7% of the vote in the three districts and he failed to win a delegate. His supporters had hoped to gain at least one delegate in each of the three districts.