Katz Vows to Boost His Image in Wake of Poll : Politics: Lawmaker, ranked fifth among top mayoral candidates, says he will extend efforts beyond the Valley.

Assemblyman and mayoral candidate Richard Katz said Saturday that he would step up efforts to make his name, if not his message, known to Angelenos, after publication of a Times poll that showed many residents did not know who he was.

“Our campaign is going to be run between now and April 20th,” Katz said, referring to the primary election. “There will be a media campaign, there will be mail and there will be walking and talking, all designed to get my name out and let people know why I’m running.”

Katz made the remarks in an interview after a candidates forum sponsored by the San Fernando Valley Democratic Club in Northridge. Katz’s speech did not address his standing in the poll, but he told the audience of 150 that he will strengthen his efforts to reach voters beyond the Valley.

The Times poll, published Friday, indicated that Katz (D-Panorama City) ranked fifth among the top 11 mayoral candidates in name recognition. About 53% of those surveyed recognized his name. Los Angeles City Councilman Michael Woo had the highest name recognition with 89%.

Former ambassador and school board member Julian Nava, who also spoke at the forum, along with Tom Houston, had a rating of 45%. Houston, an environmental attorney, had a rating of 27%.

Katz noted that the poll also showed that almost seven of every 10 Valley voters recognized his name. The poll indicated that only 4% of Valley voters were inclined to vote for Katz, but he said that Woo’s support was “thin” and that Woo has as many detractors in the Valley as he has supporters.

The Valley has about 40% of the city’s registered voters, and several candidates have said they will campaign heavily in the area.

With a pack of 52 candidates to choose from, about 42% of voters polled citywide said they were undecided. Katz said he will make a run for those votes in a campaign that is still young; he said he will wrestle votes from others.

Although he never mentioned Woo by name during the forum, Katz appeared to attack the councilman indirectly. Katz said he will not waver from his campaign platform, playing off criticisms that Woo flip-flops on issues to appease disparate audiences.

“If voters think you’re a panderer or afraid to take a stand on an issue, they’ll know you’re not tough enough to be mayor of this city,” Katz told the crowd.

“While Woo’s been talking, I’ve been getting things done,” he said after the forum, mentioning several job creation bills he introduced in the Assembly.

“The city faces a lot of serious problems. The voters want to hear candidates talk about how well they can build up L.A., not see how well they knock each other down,” said Vicky Rideout, Woo’s campaign manager. “Mr. Katz has had a lot of bad news in the polls recently, and this is how he’s reacting.”

Katz reiterated the message he has presented since he entered the mayor’s race: more jobs, less crime, a cleaner city and better education.

Nava and Houston also reiterated what have become steady campaign themes. Nava touched on ways to revive the local economy. Like Houston and Katz, he also said the city must work harder to combat crime.

Houston complained that it is too easy for criminals to obtain guns and repeated his call for the deportation of gang members who are illegal immigrants.