ELECTIONS: 39TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT : 6th Term Likely for Heavily Funded Katz

Democrat Richard Katz of Sylmar appears headed toward a sixth term in the northeastern San Fernando Valley’s 39th Assembly District.

His challenger, Republican Sam Ceravolo of Sun Valley, admittedly has done no campaigning. “I have no money,” he said.

Ceravolo criticized Katz for amassing more than $200,000 in campaign contributions.

“Why would he need that much?” he asked.

Katz, chairman of the Assembly Transportation Committee, said he is using the money to organize campaign literature and appearances in his district.

A close ally of Assembly Speaker Willie Brown, Katz, 40, generally votes with the Democratic majority, but takes a harder line on crime.

“What people are still talking to me about in the district is making streets safer,” he said.

Katz said he wants to develop programs that will prevent younger children from joining gangs and to support education. He said he also will seek additional funds for more and better mass transportation.

In 1988, Katz said he would seek the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor this year if incumbent Leo McCarthy did not run for reelection. He said he abandoned the idea when McCarthy decided to run again, but he added that he has not ruled out a later run for statewide office.

Ceravolo, who described himself as an abortion opponent and advocate for the rights of the disabled, said he decided to challenge Katz because “I felt he was doing so many things that were inappropriate.”

For example, he said noise barriers erected along the freeways, including the Hollywood and Golden State freeways near his residence, are “a horrible waste of government money. The walls haven’t helped. Trees cut noise better than anything.”

Ceravolo, a vocational counselor for the state Employment Development Department for 33 years, said he wants emergency phones installed at closer distances on freeways so people won’t have to walk so far to summon help when stranded.

“A quarter-mile is too far, especially if you’re disabled,” he said.

The district includes Sylmar, San Fernando, Pacoima, Panorama City, Arleta and Sepulveda and portions of North Hollywood, Northridge and Sun Valley. Of the district’s 120,164 registered voters, 57.18%--60,703--are Democrats, and 33.38%--40,714--are Republicans.