As the Man Says, It’ll Be a Boring Election : Campaigns: On the heavily Democratic Westside, the odds are against the under-financed and largely unknown Republicans.

Labor Day may be the traditional time to start a fall election campaign, but don’t look for any star-studded, kickoff rallies on this side of town.

The Democratic Party’s dominance of the area is so complete that most of the Westside’s legislative and congressional contingent will simply coast to reelection victories in November.

Under-financed and largely unknown Republican challengers will attempt to gain attention, but in most cases the odds are overwhelmingly against them.

“I don’t see any of them having any kind of a shot,” said one Republican campaign consultant, who asked to remain anonymous. “The districts are drawn in such a way they are all safe Democratic seats.”

Faced with those political facts of life, the consultant said, the Republican Party has not targeted any Westside incumbents in this election.

The primary reason for this lack of competition are district lines drawn at the beginning of the 1980s by the Westside’s Waxman-Berman Democratic political organization and adopted as part of the state’s overall reapportionment plan, that all but guarantee this is safe Democratic turf.

“If you had competitive districts, you would have competitive campaigns,” said Robert Stern, co-director of the California Commission on Campaign Financing, a private West Los Angeles-based organization composed of business, labor and academic leaders interested in political reform.

Stern, former chief counsel to the state Fair Political Practices Commission, said the absence of competitive districts combined with the power of the incumbents make it difficult for challengers to raise the money necessary to wage an effective campaign.

As a consequence, Stern predicted, “it’s going to be a very boring election on the Westside.”

The major exception will be the municipal elections in Santa Monica. There, voters will decide a host of ballot measures on beachfront hotels, affordable housing, rent control and whether to make the city attorney’s post an elective office.

Santa Monica voters will also decide 15 races for seats on the City Council, rent control board, school board and community college board.

West Hollywood voters will decide whether to allow card-club gambling.

The one legislative and congressional race that political experts are keeping an eye on involves Rep. Anthony C. Beilenson of Los Angeles. Although the Westside and San Fernando Valley district has been reliably Democratic in recent elections, it is only 53% Democratic in voter registration.

Beilenson is being challenged for the second time by GOP candidate Jim Salomon, a Beverly Hills international trade consultant, who last month won the backing of the district’s most famous Republican, former President Ronald Reagan.

A liberal Democrat known for his independence, Beilenson easily defeated Salomon in their first encounter two years ago, winning by a 2-1 margin.

This time, Salomon has raised more money than Beilenson, but he spent all of it and was running a deficit at the end of the last reporting period in June. Republican strategists will monitor Salomon’s progress in the race but are not targeting the contest at this time.

Beilenson, a seven-term lawmaker who for years represented the Westside part of the district in the state Legislature, also faces Peace and Freedom candidate John Honigsfeld.

Along the coast, Rep. Mel Levine of Santa Monica is heavily favored to defeat Republican David Barrett Cohen in his 54% Democratic district.

A four-term veteran, Levine has built a $1.5-million campaign treasury--the largest of any California congressmen--although he is expected to save a lot of that money for a run for the U.S. Senate in 1992. A decision by Levine to seek higher office could set in motion a scramble for his seat two years from now.

For the time being, Cohen, a West Los Angeles attorney, is attempting to make an issue of Levine’s political contributions from the savings and loan industry. Peace and Freedom candidate Edward Ferrer is also on the ballot.

The two namesakes of the Westside’s Democratic organization, Henry A. Waxman of Los Angeles and Howard L. Berman of Panorama City, are expected to easily win reelection to the House.

Waxman is seeking his ninth term in his solidly Democratic Fairfax-Hollywood-area district. In a rerun, Waxman will face Republican John N. Cowles, whom he easily beat in 1988. Peace and Freedom candidate Maggie Phair is also on the ballot.

Berman is seeking a fifth term in the usually Democratic territory that runs from the Hollywood hills into the northeastern San Fernando Valley. He will face Republican businessman Roy Dahlson and Libertarian Bernard Zimring.

In the heavily black and Latino 28th District, Rep. Julian C. Dixon of Los Angeles will again face Republican businessman George Z. Adams, whom he defeated two years ago. Libertarian Bob Weber and Peace and Freedom candidate William R. Williams also are running.

As in the congressional races, incumbent state lawmakers are well-positioned to retain seats in Sacramento.

Assemblyman Tom Hayden of Santa Monica is concentrating most of his attention on winning passage of Proposition 128, the so-called “Big Green” environmental initiative that he co-authored on the Nov. 6 ballot.

Confident of victory, the four-term lawmaker is not expected to mount an intensive reelection campaign in coastal district, despite a recent bout of bad publicity about his attendance record in Sacramento and a controversial appearance at a Santa Monica City Council meeting.

Republican Fred Beteta, a Santa Monica College trustee for 15 years, will take on Hayden. Libertarian Rebecca Donner and Peace and Freedom candidate Timothy A. Burdick are also running.

Assemblyman Terry B. Friedman of Los Angeles will confront Republican Gary Passi, Libertarian Andrew S. Rotter and Peace and Freedom candidate John Paul Lindblad, in the neighboring 43rd District. The Democratic district runs from Beverly Hills through Bel-Air and into the northwestern San Fernando Valley.

Voters in the Democratic precincts of the 45th Assembly District from Hollywood to Burbank will choose between Democratic Assemblyman Burt Margolin of Los Angeles, Republican businesswoman Elizabeth Michael of Hollywood and Peace and Freedom candidate Owen Staley.

Assemblyman Mike Roos is seeking a eighth term in the 46th District, which runs from the mid-Wilshire area to downtown Los Angeles and Silver Lake. The powerful Democrat will face Republican stockbroker Geoffrey Church of Los Angeles, Peace and Freedom Party candidate Dan Robrish, and Libertarian Michael Everling.

And in the 49th District from Marina del Rey to the Crenshaw district, Assemblywoman Gwen Moore and Republican Eric Givens meet again. Moore easily beat Givens two years ago. Peace and Freedom candidate Alice Mae Miles and Libertarian Carin Rogers are also running.

The state Senate race affecting the most Westside voters takes place in the 22nd district, which stretches from beach to Beverly Hills. Incumbent Democrat Herschel Rosenthal of Los Angeles meets Republican businessman Michael Schrager of Santa Monica and Peace and Freedom candidate Margery Hinds.

Malibu residents will decide whether to reelect Democrat Sen. Gary K. Hart of Santa Barbara to a third term. Republican businesswoman Carey Rogers of Santa Barbara and Libertarian Jay C. Wood are also running in the 18th Senate District that runs along the coast through Ventura County to Santa Barbara.

And in a true testament to Democratic strength, Sen. Diane E. Watson of Los Angeles has no Republican challenger. Watson faces only Peace and Freedom candidate Ivan Kasimoff in the 28th District that runs inland from Marina del Rey to South-Central Los Angeles.

WESTSIDE CAMPAIGNS AT A GLANCE

CONGRESS

23RD DISTRICT--Malibu, Pacific Palisades, Brentwood, Westwood, Bel-Air, Century City, Beverly Hills, Rancho Park, Palms, northwestern San Fernando Valley.

Incumbent Democrat Anthony C. Beilenson of Los Angeles faces Republican businessman Jim Salomon of Beverly Hills and Peace and Freedom candidate John Honigsfeld. Beilenson easily defeated both challengers two years ago.

24TH DISTRICT--Fairfax area, Hollywood, the edge of downtown Los Angeles, Griffith Park and North Hollywood.

Incumbent Democrat Henry A. Waxman of Los Angeles is in another match-up with Republican John N. Cowles, whom he easily beat in 1988. Peace and Freedom candidate Maggie Phair is also running.

26TH DISTRICT--Hillside areas above Hollywood, Bel-Air and Beverly Hills, plus the northeastern San Fernando Valley.

Incumbent Democrat Howard L. Berman of

Panorama City is challenged by Van Nuys Republican businessman Roy Dahlson and Libertarian Bernard Zimring.

27TH DISTRICT--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.

Incumbent Democrat Mel Levine of Santa Monica takes on Republican attorney David Barrett Cohen of West Los Angeles and Peace and Freedom candidate Edward Ferrer.

28TH DISTRICT--Culver City, Westchester, Lennox, Baldwin Hills, South-Central Los Angeles.

Incumbent Democrat Julian C. Dixon of Los Angeles is in a rematch with Republican businessman George Z. Adams, whom he easily beat in 1988. Libertarian Bob Weber and Peace and Freedom candidate William R. Williams also are on the ballot.

STATE SENATE

18TH DISTRICT-- Malibu, Ventura County and Santa Barbara County.

Incumbent Democrat Gary K. Hart of Santa Barbara seeks reelection against Republican businesswoman Carey Rogers of Santa Barbara and Libertarian Jay C. Wood.

22ND DISTRICT-- 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.

Incumbent Democrat Herschel Rosenthal of Los Angeles confronts Republican businessman Michael Schrager of Santa Monica and Peace and Freedom candidate Margery Hinds.

28TH DISTRICT--Marina del Rey, Playa del Rey, Westchester, part of Culver City, Inglewood, Hawthorne, Lawndale and part of South-Central Los Angeles.

Incumbent Democrat Diane E. Watson of Los Angeles has no Republican challenger and faces Peace and Freedom candidate Ivan Kasimoff in November.

ASSEMBLY

43RD DISTRICT--Bel-Air, Brentwood, Westwood, Beverly Hills, parts of the northwestern San Fernando Valley.

Incumbent Democrat Terry B. Friedman of Los Angeles meets Republican Gary Passi, Libertarian Andrew S. Rotter and Peace and Freedom candidate John Paul Lindblad.

44TH DISTRICT--Malibu, Pacific Palisades, Santa Monica, Venice, Mar Vista, West Los Angeles and Century City.

Incumbent Democrat Tom Hayden of Santa Monica has a new Republican challenger, Santa Monica College trustee Fred Beteta. Libertarian Rebecca Donner and Peace and Freedom candidate Timothy A. Burdick are also running.

45TH DISTRICT-- Hollywood, West Hollywood, Hancock Park, Universal City, North Hollywood and part of Burbank.

Incumbent Democrat Burt Margolin of Los Angeles is on the ballot with Republican businesswoman Elizabeth Michael of Hollywood and Peace and Freedom candidate Owen Staley.

46TH DISTRICT--Mid-Wilshire area, downtown Los Angeles, Silver Lake, Griffith Park.

Incumbent Democrat Mike Roos of Los Angeles faces Republican stockbroker Geoffrey Church of Los Angeles, Peace and Freedom candidate Dan Robrish and Libertarian Michael Everling.

49TH DISTRICT--Marina del Rey, Playa del Rey, Westchester, Culver City, Ladera Heights, Baldwin Hills and the Crenshaw area.

Incumbent Democrat Gwen Moore of Los Angeles takes on Republican Eric Givens, whom she easily defeated two years ago. Peace and Freedom candidate Alice Mae Miles and Libertarian Carin Rogers also are on the ballot.