McKeon Criticized for Endorsement : Politics: Foes of Elsmere Canyon landfill say mayoral hopeful Richard Riordan helped negotiate deal for dump.

Opponents of the proposed Elsmere Canyon landfill are questioning Congressman Howard (Buck) McKeon’s endorsement of Los Angeles mayoral candidate Richard Riordan, who negotiated the deal between the city and the county of Los Angeles to develop the dump.

“Why would he support Riordan knowing that he contributed to the single biggest threat to this valley?” Pat Saletore, an anti-dump leader, said Friday.

“Why would he support a man who has demonstrated such a lack of concern over an issue that is so important to us?”

In 1990, Riordan and his law firm represented the county in negotiating a pact with the city to run the proposed landfill, which would dump 190 million tons of the county’s garbage just outside Santa Clarita’s eastern border.

Santa Clarita City Councilwoman Jill Klajic echoed Saletore’s concern over the endorsement.

“Everyone probably is concerned about Riordan’s association with the Joint Powers Agreement and what that will mean to the Elsmere Canyon issue if and when he were to become mayor of L.A.,” Klajic said.

Santa Clarita Mayor Jan Heidt stopped short of saying that McKeon had neglected the city’s interest in the endorsement.

“McKeon’s a Republican and nothing else matters. That’s his philosophy about endorsing people. You have to be more discerning than that,” Heidt said.

“I would hope that in exchange for the endorsement, Buck could get an agreement from Riordan to back off Elsmere.”

McKeon spokesman Armando Azarloza said Riordan has not taken a position on the proposed Elsmere Canyon landfill and that the dump was just one of several issues looked at before making the endorsement.

“We are comfortable with Mr. Riordan’s comments that he has no specific position on the Elsmere issue,” Azarloza said.

McKeon’s endorsement reflected his belief in Riordan’s support of the business community and his ability to address the gang and drug problems faced by Los Angeles, Azarloza said, and does not sacrifice the interests of one part of the district for those of another.

“If and when Mr. Riordan is elected mayor,” Azarloza said, “the endorsement and having Riordan’s ear puts Buck in a real good position to lobby against Elsmere.”

The southern parts of McKeon’s district include Granada Hills, Chatsworth, Northridge, North Mills and Mission Hills, but the base of his district is Santa Clarita, where he was the first mayor.

Despite the endorsement of Riordan, most dump opponents remain confident in McKeon’s own opposition to the dump, a sentiment echoed by Azarloza.

“Politicians do what politicians do,” said Lee Schramling, an anti-dump activist. “Buck is a strong opponent to this dump, and I will continue to work with his people.”