Chick Attacks Picus’ Lobbyist Contributions : Election: The West Valley incumbent retorts that her rival is an ally of City Hall interests.

During a debate before about 200 West Hills residents Tuesday night, Los Angeles City Council candidate Laura Chick pointed out that incumbent Councilwoman Joy Picus has taken more than $500,000 in campaign contributions from City Hall lobbyists and developers.

It was Chick’s most forceful counterattack to date against Picus’ claims that Chick--Picus’ former field deputy--has been bought by large campaign contributions from entrenched City Hall interests.

That argument is “the kettle calling the pot black,” Chick said. Picus is “trying to fit the incumbent’s shoe on my foot, and it hurts.”

In recent days, Picus--trying to combat Chick’s well-financed political machine and its call for change--has tried to paint the 48-year-old Chick as a carpetbagging ally of a City Hall-based old boys’ network.

If Chick wins, it will signal a “hostile takeover of the 3rd District” in the southwestern San Fernando Valley by Mayor “Tom Bradley’s cronies,” Picus said in the debate, sponsored by the West Hills Property Owners Assn. Picus contended that fully one-third of Chick’s contributors are lawyers, lobbyists and real estate developers.

Turning to Chick at the Justice Street Elementary School in West Hills, Picus said: “Laura, the idea that you’re an agent for change is absurd. You are a career political insider.”

Chick invited members of the audience to review Picus’ own campaign statements, provided by a Chick campaign worker in the audience, saying they revealed that Picus had received more than half a million dollars from the same types of contributors.

Picus’ efforts to depict Chick as a City Hall insider, however, drew boos and groans from the audience.

Meanwhile, Picus also challenged Chick to return a campaign contribution she had received from the Tobacco Institute. “I’m appalled that you received the maximum contribution permitted from the Tobacco Institute,” Picus said, noting that anti-smoking measures are pending before the City Council.

Replying to questions from the audience, neither candidate would express a preference in the mayoral race between Councilman Michael Woo and businessman Richard Riordan. The mayoral and 3rd District elections will be held June 8.

As Picus assured the audience that she would work with either man as mayor, Chick countered that Picus’ record showed something different.

Chick said that Picus had hurt West Valley interests by her failure to develop a working relationship with outgoing Mayor Bradley.

Chick blamed Picus’ often rocky relationship with Bradley for the fact that a disproportionately small share of Valley residents have been appointed to city commissions by the mayor.

Other questions from the audience included whether the candidates supported a breakup of the Los Angeles school district. Both said they did, but Chick again accused Picus of failed leadership--this time for allowing the board to eliminate one of the two school board districts located entirely in the Valley.

Picus and Chick are scheduled to hold at least two other face-to-face debates before the June 8 election.