ELECTIONS: LEGISLATIVE, CONGRESSIONAL : Westside Again Proves Strength of Incumbency : Democrats: Officeholders easily won Tuesday. Their reelection chances are high since the party leads in registration.

History repeated itself Tuesday as the Westside’s firmly entrenched Democratic lawmakers easily won renomination and moved to within striking distance of reelection this fall.

Unknown and under-financed challengers again proved to be no match for the money, clout and visibility of incumbent congressmen and state legislators.

The returns also demonstrated the rock-solid Westside political base of the Democratic political organization headed by Reps. Howard L. Berman of Panorama City and Henry A. Waxman of Los Angeles.

One of the Berman-Waxman machine’s stalwarts, Democratic state Sen. Herschel Rosenthal of Los Angeles, crushed a primary challenge from the Century City attorney who represented actress Zsa Zsa Gabor in her Beverly Hills cop-slapping case.

Rosenthal, the only member of the state Senate to face a primary opponent, captured 87% of the vote in a landslide victory over William Graysen.

Graysen said he entered the race because of concern that incumbents too often run unopposed and are reelected again and again. But he barely waged a campaign, spending nothing more than the filing fee.

Rosenthal turned back the challenge without mounting a campaign. Instead, he relied on slate cards and sophisticated mailers, targeted at Democratic voters, that are the trademark of the powerful Berman-Waxman machine.

In his race for a third term, Rosenthal will face Republican Michael Schrager and Peace and Freedom candidate Margery Hinds. The solidly Democratic 22nd Senate District includes Pacific Palisades, Santa Monica, Brentwood, Bel-Air, Westwood, West Los Angeles, Century City, Beverly Hills, Mar Vista, the Palms area and part of Culver City.

The power of incumbency also swept Assemblyman Tom Hayden (D-Santa Monica) to a landslide primary victory over Los Angeles businessman Alex Cota. Hayden beat Cota by a 3-1 margin in their third consecutive primary face-off.

But Hayden will have a new Republican challenger in his bid for a fifth term. Veteran Santa Monica College Trustee Fred Beteta edged out Pacific Palisades camera store owner Gloria Stout to capture the GOP nomination. Republican voters evidently were looking for a fresh face after Stout failed to stop Hayden in the last two general elections.

Beteta, who describes himself as the first Latino elected in Santa Monica, became a Republican four years ago after a falling-out with local Democrats. He has been an outspoken member of the college board for 15 years.

Libertarian Rebecca Donner and Peace and Freedom candidate Timothy Burdick will also be on the ballot in the 44th Assembly District, which includes Malibu, Pacific Palisades, Santa Monica, Venice, Mar Vista, West Los Angeles and Century City.

In the adjacent 45th Assembly District, incumbent Assemblyman Burt Margolin (D-Los Angeles) will face Republican Elizabeth Michael of Hollywood. Michael, a “born-again” Jew for Jesus, is opposed to abortion. Margolin is a supporter of abortion rights.

Michael won the Republican nomination with 72% of the vote after a rancorous GOP primary battle with Robert K. Davis, a gay West Hollywood swimming pool contractor.

Margolin is running for a sixth term in the district, which includes Hollywood, West Hollywood, Hancock Park, Universal City, North Hollywood and part of Burbank. Peace and Freedom candidate Owen Staley will also appear on the ballot.

Next door in the 46th Assembly District, Assemblyman Mike Roos (D-Los Angeles) walloped challenger Sal Genovese by an 8-1 margin.

Republican stockbroker Geoffrey Church easily beat disabled Korean War veteran Howard O. Watts in the GOP primary. Unlike Roos, Church is anti-abortion and opposes efforts to restrict the sale of assault rifles.

The solidly Democratic district includes the mid-Wilshire area, downtown Los Angeles, Silver Lake and Griffith Park.

In his quest for an eighth term, Roos will also face Libertarian Michael Everling and Peace and Freedom candidate Dan Robrish, who defeated rival Robert Taves.

The story of incumbent victory was the same in the Westside’s congressional races.

Berman captured 86% of the Democratic vote in defeating Scott M. Gaulke of Studio City, a follower of political extremist Lyndon LaRouche.

Republican businessman Roy Dahlson of Van Nuys easily won the GOP nomination over Sun Valley hardware store manager Gary E. Forsch.

As he seeks a fifth term, Berman will also face Libertarian Bernard Zimring. The 26th Congressional District includes the hills above Hollywood, Bel-Air and Beverly Hills, plus the northeastern San Fernando Valley.

Rep. Mel Levine (D-Santa Monica) had no Democratic opponent. In November, he will face Republican David Barrett Cohen, a West Los Angeles attorney. Cohen beat Playa del Rey computer salesman Hans Yeager in the GOP primary.

In his race for a fifth term, Levine will also face Peace and Freedom candidate Edward Ferrer. Levine has had little difficulty winning relection in the odd-shaped 27th Congressional District, despite the fact that it has less Democratic registration than some Westside districts. The territory includes Santa Monica, part of West Los Angeles, Mar Vista, Venice, Marina del Rey, Playa del Rey, part of Inglewood, El Segundo, Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, Lawndale, part of Torrance and Terminal Island.

To the north, a rematch will take place between Rep. Anthony C. Beilenson (D-Los Angeles) and Republican businessman Jim Salomon. Peace and Freedom candidate John Honigsfeld will also be on the ballot.

Beilenson is seeking his eighth term. He received 63.5% of the vote against Salomon two years ago. The Republican is expected to mount a well-financed challenge this fall but is the underdog.

The 23rd Congressional District includes Malibu, Pacific Palisades, Brentwood, Westwood, Bel-Air, Century City, Beverly Hills, Rancho Park and the Palms area, plus the northwestern part of the San Fernando Valley.

In a Hollywood rerun, Waxman will again face Republican John N. Cowles as Waxman seeks a ninth term. Waxman swept to victory over Cowles two years ago. Peace and Freedom candidate Maggie Phair will be on the ballot, having won her primary against Vikki Murdock.

Waxman’s 24th Congressional District includes the Fairfax District, the Hollywood area, the edge of downtown Los Angeles, Griffith Park and North Hollywood.

In another rematch, Rep. Julian C. Dixon (D-Los Angeles) will run against Republican George Z. Adams, who lost two years ago. Libertarian Bob Weber and Peace and Freedom candidate William R. Williams will also be on the ballot.

Dixon is seeking his seventh term from 28th Congressional District, which includes Culver City, Westchester, Lennox, Baldwin Hillsand South-Central Los Angeles.

The odds heavily favor the return of incumbent state legislators to Sacramento.

In his bid for a third term, Assemblyman Terry B. Friedman (D-Los Angeles), will face Republican Gary Passi, Libertarian Andrew S. Rotter and Peace and Freedom candidate John Paul Lindblad.

Friedman’s 43rd Assembly District includes Bel-Air, Brentwood, Westwood and Beverly Hills and parts of the northwestern San Fernando Valley.

As she seeks a seventh term, Assemblywoman Gwen Moore (D-Los Angeles) will be opposed by Republican Eric Givens, whom she easily defeated two years ago.

Peace and Freedom candidate Alice Mae Miles and Libertarian Carin Rogers will also be on the ballot in the staunchly Democratic 49th Assembly District, which includes Marina del Rey, Playa del Rey, Westchester, Culver City, Ladera Heights, Baldwin Hills and the Crenshaw District.

Sen. Diane E. Watson (D-Los Angeles) effectively won reelection Tuesday. She faces only Peace and Freedom candidate Ivan Kasimoff in November.

The 28th Senate District includes Marina del Rey, Playa del Rey, Westchester, part of Culver City, Inglewood, Hawthorne, Lawndale and part of South-Central Los Angeles.

Malibu voters will choose from among Sen. Gary K. Hart (D-Santa Barbara), Republican Carey Rogers of Santa Barbara and Libertarian Jay C. Wood in November. The 18th Senate District runs from the Topanga Canyon area in Malibu north to Ventura and Santa Barbara counties.

* MUNICIPAL COURT

College Trustee James M. Bambrick will go up against Santa Monica City Councilman David B. Finkel in the November election for judgeship. J6