2 Narrow Victories Boost Friedman’s Capitol Profile

While doing her homework for a cigarette tax bill to fund breast cancer research, Assemblywoman Barbara Friedman made a personal discovery: In her persistent questioning of experts and patients, she was also seeking peace of mind.

“I would ask questions and questions, and what I found I was doing was trying to separate myself from this plague,” Friedman said in a recent interview. “Well, I finally got the message that we are all high-risk.”

Finding no assurances to protect women from the little-understood, often-fatal disease, the two-term Democrat from Van Nuys redoubled her efforts, reviving the bill that had died in the Assembly last year and pushing it through two committees. Finally, on Monday, in an emotional finale in the Assembly, the breast cancer bill got the minimum number of votes needed to go to the Senate--but only after three tries.

Friends say the methodical, workmanlike approach is typical of Friedman, who after two narrow legislative successes in the Assembly in two weeks is suddenly in the spotlight as a comer--no longer just a newcomer. Last week, Friedman won approval of a grocer-opposed measure to increase security measures at supermarkets and drug stores; this week, she shepherded the 2-cent-a-pack tax on cigarettes in the face of vehement GOP arguments that it was regressive.

“It’s always difficult for a new freshperson to establish their identity because they have to build up credibility,” said Assemblyman Sam Farr (D-Carmel). “I think Barbara’s now doing that. She’s coming into her own.”

Critics, however, say Friedman is calculating and has shrewdly learned how to repay political favors like a seasoned veteran. In their view, the breast cancer funding bill is little more than an anti-tobacco, pro-tax liberal assault that Friedman has managed to disguise as a broad-based women’s health care issue. The supermarket security bill, they say, is a pay-back to labor unions that supported her on Election Day.

Still, the 43-year-old Friedman seems to strike most acquaintances as likable, competent and a quick study.

“I was impressed with her professionalism and organization,” said breast cancer patient Peggy Funk, 43, of Oxnard, who helped lobby legislators for Friedman’s bill. “It’s nice to work with someone who has focus and dedication.” The bill faces an uncertain fate in the Senate where tobacco lobbyists will soon be working to defeat it.

When speaking about issues one-on-one, Friedman chooses her words carefully, slowly framing her position.

She admits to idealism, saying, “I really came up here to try to be an advocate and make a difference. There is an opportunity to influence the legislative process, and the way to do that is to have solutions and to work hard.”

Friedman came to the Capitol in 1991 after beating out a crowded primary field for the 46th Assembly District seat vacated by Democrat Mike Roos, who resigned midterm to join the school reform effort in Los Angeles. She won the primary by a slim margin--31 votes--over John Emerson, who now works for the Clinton Administration in Washington. She received 72% of the vote in her general election victory over Republican Geoffrey C. Church.

Before that, she was chief deputy to City Controller Rick Tuttle and had a solid grounding in organized labor affairs, having worked for the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor (AFL-CIO), the United Food and Commercial Workers Union and the Communications Workers of America. In her early 30s, she served as chief of staff to Democratic Assemblyman Burt Margolin of Los Angeles.

Last fall, redistricting placed Friedman deeper into the San Fernando Valley, and closer to where she grew up. As a girl, Friedman attended Coldwater Canyon Elementary School, Madison Junior High School and graduated from Van Nuys High School. Her parents live in Encino; her grandmother still resides in Van Nuys.

Now living in a “security building” in the Valley Village neighborhood of Van Nuys, Friedman said she is as alarmed as her constituents about the issue of urban crime. Her 40th District offices are located in the same bank building where Sherman Oaks resident Sherri Foreman, 29, was stabbed to death in March during an attempted carjacking at an automated teller machine.

Other issues that Friedman cites as key are reform of the workers’ compensation system and the movement to downsize the Los Angeles Unified School District. While she agrees the district is too big, she believes it needs to be broken up “in such a way that it brings more money to the classroom.”

Much of what Friedman champions at the Capitol reflects her interest in three areas in particular: children, women and health care issues.

The California Children’s Lobby, a nonprofit advocacy group, praised Friedman in a recent newsletter for her concern over shifting care of abused and neglected children from the state to county level. In addition, Friedman has offered bills setting requirements for adolescent pregnancy counseling, for monitoring preschoolers’ development and for a mentor program for school principals.

One of Friedman’s disappointments, she said, was her inability this year to get a bill adopted establishing a special prosecutor in Los Angeles to pursue misdemeanor political corruption violations. Local prosecutors lobbied against it, and Friedman vows to try again next year.

Even as a newcomer to the Assembly in 1991, Friedman had friends on the inside. She is considered a member of the influential Waxman-Berman clan, a loose-knit group of influential Democratic politicians led by U.S. Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-Los Angeles) and Rep. Howard Berman (D-Panorama City). Margolin, Assemblyman Terry Friedman (D-Brentwood, no relation to Barbara Friedman) and Assemblyman Richard Katz (D-Panorama City) are all members of the alliance.

Friedman says she “really respects” those lawmakers, but contends that “people who perceive the group as walking in lock step” are mistaken. For one thing, Friedman said she is seriously eyeing the state Senate seat to be vacated by Sen. David A. Roberti (D-Van Nuys) next year--and she expects she may face Katz in what she anticipates will be “a tough race.”

Still, Friedman and the other members of the Waxman-Berman alliance have come under fire by California Common Cause for what the campaign ethics watchdog group sees as an effort earlier this year to squash a full-disclosure campaign advertising measure.

Friedman admits to an attempt to pull the bill from the legislative consent calendar but said she only requested the action so she could study the measure. The bill calls for a disclaimer at the top of slate mailers stating that the mailer does not represent an official party endorsement.

Common Cause Executive Director Ruth Holton said a political consulting firm aligned with the Waxman-Berman political machine opposed the bill. “It wouldn’t be surprising to me if they (the Waxman-Berman group) went to her and said ‘Help us kill this bill.’ ”

Friedman’s supporters dismiss such remarks, calling her one of the hardest-working members of the Assembly. “Once she devotes herself, she does her homework and commits herself,” said Assemblywoman Deirdre Alpert (D-Coronado), who shares a sparsely furnished apartment with Friedman in Sacramento during sessions.

Even Republicans hesitate to criticize. “We have a good working relationship,” said Assemblywoman Doris Allen (R-Cypress), who ended up switching her vote to support Friedman’s cigarette tax.

Amid handshakes, bearhugs and congratulations Monday night after the cigarette tax bill vote, Friedman said she considered its passage in the Assembly to be one of her most important accomplishments so far. The bill would raise $38 million annually to pay for breast cancer research, early detection for uninsured women and a public information campaign.

“Basically it’s a fight for what you believe in,” she said.

Barbara Friedman Biography

Age: 43

Born: Los Angeles

Residence: Van Nuys

Political affiliation: Democrat

Office: 40th Assembly District, which includes parts of North Hollywood, Studio City, Sherman Oaks, Van Nuys, Reseda and Canoga Park.

Education: Graduated from Van Nuys High School; earned a history degree at UC Berkeley.

Job history: Chief deputy to City Controller Rick Tuttle when elected to office in 1991. Previously worked for the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor (AFL-CIO), the United Food and Commercial Workers Union, the Communications Workers of America and was chief of staff to Democratic Assemblyman Burt Margolin of Los Angeles from 1983-85.

Political history: Won the vacant 46th Assembly District seat, which included Los Feliz, Koreatown and part of Hollywood, in a special election in July, 1991, by defeating Republican Geoffrey C. Church by more than a 3-1 margin. After her district was reapportioned out of existence, she decided to run in the 40th District when veteran Democrat Tom Bane announced his retirement. She beat Republican Horace H. Heidt in the November, 1992, election by gathering 58% of the vote.