43RD ASSEMBLY RACE

Democratic Assemblyman Terry B. Friedman of Los Angeles is running for a third term in a district that straddles the Santa Monica Mountains from the Westside to the San Fernando Valley.

Friedman, a low-key liberal closely allied with the Westside’s powerful Waxman-Berman Democratic organization, was a legal services attorney before he was first elected in 1986.

In Sacramento, Friedman is known as an uncompromising advocate of civil liberties and abortion rights. He also has been active in efforts to preserve open space in the Santa Monica Mountains.

He faces Republican Gary Passi, a previously unsuccessful candidate for the Assembly and other local offices in Los Angeles.

Despite long odds, Passi, owner of health clubs in Burbank and Sherman Oaks, said he is running against Friedman because there needs to be a change in the Legislature. “People are fed up with old faces,” he said. Passi said he favors limitations on the number of legislative terms.

Passi also contends that Friedman has not been effective in dealing with the serious traffic problems in the district. He wants to see more freeways and light rail lines built.

Like Friedman, he defends a woman’s right to obtain an abortion.

Passi is adamantly opposed to more gun controls. He believes in the right to bear arms and says, “Every property owner has the right to protect his property and family.”

The Republican candidate, who has received contributions from gun clubs, said he objects to legislation that imposed new restrictions on the sale of assault weapons.

Passi said he hopes to raise enough money for one campaign mailer.

Like most legislators, Friedman has received much of his campaign funds from special interest political action committees, including those representing labor unions, trial lawyers, banks, doctors, hospitals, dentists and teachers.

Libertarian Andrew S. Rotter and Peace and Freedom candidate John Paul Lindblad will also be on the ballot.

Staff writers Josh Meyer and Ron Russell and Times librarian Joyce Sherwood assisted with this report.

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

Candidates Party Terry B. Friedman (inc.) Democrat Gary Passi Republican Andrew S. Rotter Libertarian John Paul Lindblad Peace and Freedom

Voter Registration Registered Percent Democrats 95,903 54.6% Republicans 61,370 35.0 Independents 15,468 8.8 Minor Parties* 2,894 1.6 Total 175,635

* American Independent, Peace and Freedom, Libertarian and miscellaneous

1988 Results Votes Percent Terry B. Friedman (D) (inc.) 84,980 61.6% Tom Franklin (R) 47,620 34.5 Margery Hinds (P&F;) 2,676 1.9 Robert Leet (Lib) 2,644 1.9