SAN FERNANDO VALLEY : 2 Latino Activists Seek Bernardi Seat

Two well-known northeast San Fernando Valley Latino activists, Irene Tovar and Jose Galvan, on Thursday declared their intention to run for the seat being vacated by retiring Los Angeles City Councilman Ernani Bernardi.

Tovar, a Mission Hills resident, is a public relations consultant and longtime activist in northeast Valley Latino causes.

She was among seven candidates who challenged Bernardi’s reelection bid in 1989 and came in fourth in the primary with 9.6% of the vote.

Tovar is one of the few Valley members of Rebuild L. A., the private group set up after the April riots to help revitalize Los Angeles’ burned-out areas.

She also is a member of a citizens advisory panel for the Pacoima enterprise zone and a key player in efforts to bring community-based policing to the Los Angeles Police Department’s Foothill Division.

Galvan, a Sylmar librarian who has been president of the San Fernando Valley chapter of the Mexican-American Political Assn., also entered the race.

Galvan, who has run for office in the past, was among a group of challengers who tried in 1988 to oust Los Angeles County Supervisor Mike Antonovich.

Thursday was the second day for people to declare their candidacy for the April 20 municipal election.