Large Field of GOP Candidates May Run for La Follette’s Seat

Assemblywoman Marian W. La Follette (R-Northridge) confirmed Tuesday that she will not run for reelection, a decision that may ignite a political free-for-all to succeed her in her northern San Fernando Valley district.

At a news conference, La Follette endorsed an aide, Robert Wilcox, 24, for her Assembly seat. But political observers predicted that the field will fill up rapidly with other Republicans eager to win the June 5 primary, which in the heavily Republican district usually guarantees election in November.

“If they’re breathing and they’re a registered Republican and they know three people, they’re a likely candidate,” quipped one GOP political consultant.

La Follette’s surprise decision, made over the weekend, to abandon her 38th Assembly District seat at the end of this year gave would-be candidates little time to decide whether to campaign. The deadline to file papers for the seat is March 14.

Indeed, with no advance warning, none of several well-known Valley GOP politicians contacted Tuesday expressed interest in running, despite the strong lure of a vacant seat. However, political insiders said a number of lesser-known candidates may emerge in the next two weeks.

Several observers mentioned La Follette’s district as a possible vehicle for a political comeback by former U.S. Rep. Bobbi Fiedler. But Fiedler’s husband, political consultant Paul Clarke, ruled out such an attempt in terms that were unusually firm for such a fluid political situation.

“No. She has no interest. She’s never had an iota of interest in going to Sacramento, ever,” Clarke said.

Another name mentioned by insiders was Greig Smith, a longtime aide to Los Angeles City Councilman Hal Bernson, whose district overlaps much of La Follette’s. Smith could not be reached for comment, but two sources close to him said he too is uninterested.

Analysts, however, said the race still may be crowded with lesser-known candidates, possibly including some from the business community. One possibility cited was Paula Boland, a past president of the Granada Hills Chamber of Commerce.

“There’s going to be no superstar in the race,” one GOP consultant said. “Moses isn’t going to be running.”

Wilcox, a La Follette aide since 1986, is expected to have potent political backing from both the assemblywoman and her longtime ally, state Sen. Ed Davis (R-Valencia). Wilcox said his campaign staff will include several people long associated with Davis, including campaign manager Martha Zilm.

But observers said Wilcox is likely to be hampered by his age and lack of name recognition in the far-flung district, which stretches from La Crescenta in the east to Calabasas and Hidden Hills in the west.

One observer speculated that Assembly GOP Leader Ross Johnson may back a candidate other than Wilcox. La Follette supported the recently aborted drive by fellow GOP Assemblyman Tom McClintock of Thousand Oaks to dump Johnson.

La Follette, a 10-year Assembly veteran best known for her persistent efforts to carve the Los Angeles Unified School District into smaller districts, said she will finish out her term, which expires on Dec. 31.

Elected in 1980, La Follette, 63, is considered a conservative but independent-minded lawmaker who has kept a low profile throughout her five terms of office. A one-time member of the Los Angeles Community College board, La Follette actively opposed mandatory school busing to achieve racial integration.

For the past several years, she has made breaking up the Los Angeles school system one of her top legislative priorities, arguing it is too large and pays too little attention to the needs of Valley students. The Legislature has repeatedly rebuffed her efforts, and La Follette now hopes to put the matter to a public vote.

“I don’t have any other political plans other than to continue to work to break up the Los Angeles Unified School District,” she said.

La Follette said she won’t run again because she believes legislators should not serve more than 10 years, adding that voters “are not well served with a permanent, non-changing, professional Legislature.”

McClintock and other observers said La Follette also has been increasingly frustrated with political “games-playing” and ethics scandals in Sacramento as well as her inability to get school-related bills passed in the Democrat-dominated Legislature.

La Follette is worried about the health of her husband, Jack, a Los Angeles lawyer who is undergoing chemotherapy for lymph cancer. She said he has responded well to recent treatment.

During her news conference, La Follette’s voice cracked and tears welled in her eyes as she described her husband’s “support and good humor” in putting up with her “crazy schedule” in the Assembly.