ELECTIONS / L.A. CITY COUNCIL : Rivals Debate Toughness on Crime : Incumbent Joy Picus supports an anti-graffiti proposal. Opponent Laura Chick promises to take $100,000 from her personal office budget to hire more police.

The two candidates to represent the southwestern San Fernando Valley on the Los Angeles City Council debated Wednesday over which would be the toughest on crime.

“I am outraged, as you are, by crime, gangs and graffiti in our community,” said incumbent Councilwoman Joy Picus, who promised to support a proposal to make graffiti vandalism a felony punishable by a $1,000 fine and 1,000 hours of community service.

“Crime and graffiti and gang violence are getting out of control,” challenger Laura Chick, a former Picus field representative, agreed. She said that if elected she would take $100,000 from her personal office budget to hire more police, and promote budget cuts elsewhere in city government to provide even more officers.

Picus criticized Chick’s plan as “Chickonomics,” saying that $100,000 would pay for only one additional officer each year.

The two candidates, meeting before an audience of about 80 west San Fernando Valley residents at Woodland Hills United Methodist Church, also harshly criticized each other’s stands on the city budget and the proliferation of commercial development. But throughout the debate, they continually returned to the topic of crime.

It was the second debate by the two candidates before a live audience since the April primary election, in which they were the top finishers for the 3rd District council seat.

Wednesday’s debate started with an attack by Picus, who called Chick a political insider, a charge that Chick vehemently denied.

The attack drew mixed boos and applause from the audience, and prompted one of the organizers, an elementary school teacher, to scold the audience.

Both women have launched harsh attacks on one another in previous debates and appearances.

Chick has accused the councilwoman of failing to adequately represent the district. Picus countered by calling Chick a political opportunist.

In a prior forum, each candidate accused the other of being a City Hall insider with close ties to lobbyists and developers.

Picus, who has been 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.

The two are expected to meet for at least one more face-to-face debate before the June 8 election.