Supervisors Put an End to a Spat Over Field Offices : Politics: The board’s new policy ends Mike Antonovich’s operations in Woodland Hills and Pacoima, areas now represented by Ed Edelman.

The War of the Offices is over.

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, entering a tussle between members Mike Antonovich and Ed Edelman, declared Tuesday that supervisors may operate field offices only within their own districts.

The new policy is aimed at driving Antonovich out of two field offices he has continued to operate in Woodland Hills and Pacoima even though Edelman began representing those areas after district lines were redrawn in November.

An occasionally catty debate over office space left some people in the Hall of Administration smirking, rolling their eyes and shaking their heads.

“I’ve been here 40 years,” veteran Supervisor Kenneth Hahn said. “I’ve never seen such an argument.”

Hahn even suggested that his colleagues settle the quarrel with a coin toss. They didn’t.

Antonovich said it made little sense to move his offices now because they might have to be moved once more after supervisorial district lines are redrawn using 1990 U.S. Census data. The lines must be revised by October, but a citizens committee will make recommended changes in August, he said.

Edelman disagreed. “This doesn’t make any sense,” he said, explaining that the dueling offices confused constituents. Later, referring to himself in the third person, he said: “You’re encroaching on the prerogative of the current supervisor.”

But Antonovich replied: “Now if you want to play petty games, that’s your right.

“If you want to spend taxpayers money twice, fine,” Antonovich continued. He then told Edelman: “It seems you have an inferiority complex.”

By then, Supervisor Gloria Molina, who sits between the two, had heard enough. “I think we need more respect here,” she said. “Talk about petty.”

Edelman raised the issue while the board considered Antonovich’s request for a larger field office in Pasadena. Edelman endorsed the proposal, but attached a motion calling for the policy to drive Antonovich out of Woodland Hills and Pacoima.

The result? Antonovich voted against his own request. But it passed anyway, 3 to 2. An Antonovich spokesman later said the supervisor would comply with the new policy.

When the office debate concluded, the five supervisors took a break to present awards and scrolls. As a photographer readied his camera, supervisors flanked one scroll recipient, putting their arms around one another. When the camera clicked, they were all smiles.