The snooze factor: A local television station...

The snooze factor: A local television station aired videotape footage Monday that appears to show Los Angeles City Councilwoman Joy Picus, who is engaged in her toughest reelection fight ever, napping at her seat during two council meetings.

The footage is interlaced with an interview of Picus in which the 62-year-old incumbent, seeking her fifth term, insists: “I don’t doze during debates. I’m attentive and listening so I can participate.”

Later, Picus revealed that what the camera appears to show may only be an illusion. Rather than sleeping, maybe she was contemplating public policy. As a lawmaker, Picus told KCAL political reporter Josh Mankiewicz that “you learn how to listen with one ear and think about other things with your eyes and other ear. You’ve got to do more than one thing at a time to be effective as a council member.”

But Mankiewicz, citing no sources for the observation, also reported that “Picus’ ability to doze during debate is well known at City Hall.”

Picus’ political opponent, challenger Laura Chick, sees this so-called “ability” as a major disability and plans to keep the snooze issue alive during the last three weeks of her campaign to unseat Picus. This was confirmed later in the week by Chick’s political consultant, Harvey Englander, bubbling with enthusiasm about the television piece.

Chick, a former aide to Picus who finished second in the primary with 29.5% of the vote to Picus’ 36.7%, told viewers that the councilwoman’s slumbers are “a real indication of low energy and lack of enthusiasm for the job. She’s falling asleep literally at the switch.”

The Picus-Chick battle for the 3rd District council seat ends June 8 at the polls.