TUESDAY ELECTION PREVIEW : Brown Hopes Democrats’ Support in Local Elections Will Invigorate Party

Former Gov. Edmund G. (Jerry) Brown Jr., now chairman of the state Democratic Party, stood before more than 350 carpenters in a Van Nuys union hall Saturday, stumping for one Democrat over another in the nonpartisan Los Angeles City Council race.

It was an action that would have been unheard of--and illegal--four months ago. But now that the U.S. Supreme Court, citing the First Amendment, has given political parties additional rights to make endorsements, Brown hopes endorsements in nonpartisan and primary races will become commonplace.

In fact, it is a cornerstone of his vision for a reinvigorated Democratic party. “It’s exciting. What this means is that the Democratic Party is where the action is,” Brown said. “You’re going to see more of this.”

Endorsing Los Angeles City Fire Capt. Lyle Hall over incumbent Councilman Ernani Bernardi in Tuesday’s runoff is Brown’s first use of the high court’s ruling.

Groom Democrats

Brown characterized statewide endorsements in nonpartisan and primary races as a way to empower local party organizations earlier in the political process, solidify neighborhood networks and peak local interest in grooming Democrats for higher office.

Telling the union members backing Hall that their large turnout indicated “something is stirring,” Brown described precincts as building blocks toward a better Democratic voter turnout. He said walking door to door in precincts--which the members were gathered to do--”is almost a forgotten art” and one he wants to see revived.

“We believe Lyle Hall can win, we want him to win, we’re going to do everything we can to see him elected,” Brown said. “But the Democratic Party is also building itself . . . we’re building a grass-roots effort statewide for 1990 and beyond.”

The Los Angeles County Democratic Party’s endorsement of Hall meant an automatic state party endorsement. Otherwise, Brown said there was no particular attribute that singled out Hall for the first visit. It was simply the first time since Brown’s election in February as chairman that he was asked by local Democratic and union leaders to participate directly in a nonpartisan election.

High Court Ruling

In 1986, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that states could not dictate the internal affairs of political parties. In February, the justices extended that freedom to endorsements in primary races.

Although nonpartisan races were not specifically covered by the rulings, Jim Clarke, chairman of the Los Angeles County Democratic Party, said attorneys advised him that any challenge to nonpartisan endorsements would fail in court. The Los Angeles County Democratic Party made its first local endorsements during the April City Council primary, supporting Latino activist Irene Tovar instead of Hall.

Endorsing one Democrat over another in a nonpartisan race might cause hard feelings, Clarke acknowledged, but he said it may make candidates take notice of the party’s needs. Clarke praised the 77-year-old Bernardi as an independent voice on the council, but criticized him for not interacting more with the local Democratic party.

“If candidates realize we have a right to make endorsements and publish those endorsements, maybe they will pay more attention to our positions and there will be a greater degree of accountability,” he said.

Tovar, a longtime Brown supporter who served on several state boards when he was governor, was among Bernardi supporters who picketed Brown’s appearance Saturday. She said she had called Brown earlier in the week to urge him to reconsider.

“I told him the Hispanic community was supporting Bernardi,” Tovar said. “When he ran as chair, he said he wanted to bring in the disenfranchised . . . the Hispanics and other minorities. I wanted to remind him of the principles we voted for him for.”

Bernardi’s chief deputy, David Mays, also joined the protesters, carrying a sign that read “Jerry Brown vs. county Democrats.”

But Bernardi shrugged Brown’s appearance off. “I’ve got a better Brown, a more mature Brown. I’ve got his dad,” he said, referring to a letter praising the councilman from former Gov. Edmund G. Brown Sr.

Nothing Tangible Now

In Hall’s case, the statewide endorsement did not bring the candidate anything tangible beyond Brown’s appearance and referrals of a few volunteers. But Clarke said that in the future the local party hopes to extract money and perks such as nonprofit mailing permits from the state party for its candidates.

Skeptics questioned Brown’s sincerity in delving into local politics. Assemblyman Richard Katz (D-Sylmar), long a critic of Brown, said he suspected Brown saw Hall as a possible upset candidate and hoped to “take some credit afterward, whether it’s due him or not.”

Katz and others also questioned how the liberal legacy of a man less-than-fondly known as “Gov. Moonbeam” will be received by voters in the east San Fernando Valley’s moderate 7th Council District.

Brown acknowledged that he is more liberal than Hall, but said that should not hurt the candidate. He emphasized that “Lyle Hall is far more reflective of this community than I am. . . . But the Democratic Party should be a large umbrella with many different people under it.”

Hall, who also has received endorsements from some Republicans, including former U.S. Rep. Bobbi Fiedler, said he was not concerned about potential backlash from Brown’s endorsement. “Just because someone endorses me doesn’t mean that I subscribe to their political points of view,” Hall said.

Hall’s Slogan

Using words that have become the slogan of Hall’s campaign, Brown said he thought it was “time for a change” in the 7th Council District. Bernardi has served on the council for 28 years.

“I served for eight years and I know that, even with the best of intentions, a certain amount of inertia sets in,” Brown said. “I can tell Bernardi, it’s not so bad being out of office. It’s interesting.”