LOCAL ELECTIONS / L.A. MAYOR : Candidates Focus on Voter-Rich Valley Area : Campaign: Woo opens a Van Nuys office and promises an aggressive push. Riordan accuses rival of trying to mimic his tough-talking stances.

In this sprawling city of 464 square miles, Los Angeles mayoral candidates Richard Riordan and Michael Woo were within blocks of each other Sunday, focusing in on the voter-rich San Fernando Valley.

In the blazing midday heat, Woo opened a Valley campaign office in Van Nuys, a couple miles from Riordan’s Sherman Oaks headquarters, and announced what he said will be an aggressive push to win over Valley voters in the June 8 runoff.

A skeptical Riordan--who beat Woo by better than a 3-to-1 margin in the Valley in last month’s mayoral primary--suggested that Woo was only now discovering the Valley, and accused him of mimicking Riordan in order to sound tougher to crime-weary, conservative homeowners.

“Mike Woo is trying to become Dick Riordan,” Riordan said in an interview. “He has discovered that there is a Valley and that you can really learn what’s going on by going out to the neighborhoods.”

Forty percent of the city’s registered voters live in the Valley. In the April 20 primary, Riordan beat Woo 33% to 24% citywide but captured 42% of the Valley vote, compared to 12% for Woo.

The Hollywood councilman, who made a concerted drive during the primary campaign for liberals, ethnic minorities, gays and others in Mayor Tom Bradley’s political coalition, said those who have conceded the Valley to Riordan are wrong.

“It’s a very different campaign out there now,” Woo said. “We’re not talking about competition among 24 candidates for Valley voters. It’s just the two of us now.”

Passing by Riordan campaign signs along the way, Woo walked precincts in Encino and Van Nuys, participated in a telethon for the Jewish National Fund (where he solicited a $50 pledge), and visited the crowded Sherman Oaks Fashion Square, encountering Woo and Riordan supporters alike.

In an Encino neighborhood, one homeowner screamed “Mike Woo!” when the candidate approached her front door and enthusiastically pledged her vote. But a few houses down, retired salesman Don Isenberg launched into a laundry list of disagreements with Woo. In a remark other Woo detractors would make during the day, Isenberg said City Hall needs a businessman in the mayor’s office.

Seeking to deflate Woo’s effort, Riordan staged a Woo-bashing session on the front lawn of a Studio City home in a neighborhood that Woo represented before his district was redrawn in 1990.

The eight residents who gathered at a Riordan supporter’s home disparaged Woo’s leadership.

“We were the forgotten part of Mr. Woo’s district,” said Dennis Zine, a Los Angeles police sergeant who ran unsuccessfully last month for Councilwoman Joy Picus’ 3rd District seat. Zine said the Valley is increasingly afflicted by what he called the “Third World” texture of Woo’s council district, with more street vendors, homeless people and crime.

Riordan also criticized Woo for his statement Saturday in support of the deportation of illegal immigrants who commit serious crimes.

Riordan said he backs such a policy but considers Woo’s support “pandering to new voters to rescue his campaign.”

While Riordan focused much of his effort during the primary on the Valley, Woo has in recent weeks begun tapping into his Democratic Party support, focusing on the slight majority of Valley residents who backed President Clinton in last fall’s election.

“Riordan has a significant number of campaign signs and we will probably not be able to match him sign for sign or dollar for dollar,” said Carol Blad, chairwoman of the Valley’s Democratic Party chapter, which has endorsed Woo. “But we will be able to get significant support for Mike Woo from Valley Democrats.”

Woo disagreed that he was taking positions similar to Riordan’s, saying “we’re very different people.” He attacked Riordan for opposing more stringent gun control laws and for donating money to organizations that oppose abortion.

“I’m not saying there are not eight people out there who are dissatisfied with my representation, but overwhelmingly I ran very well in the Studio City area when I ran for reelection,” Woo said.