Friedman’s Missive Is in the Spirit of a Campaign, If Not Letter

EARLY CAMPAIGNING: A recent letter from U.S. Rep. Howard L. Berman (D-Panorama City) to supporters of Assemblywoman Barbara Friedman (D-North Hollywood) has heightened speculation that the two-term state legislator is positioning herself to run for the Valley-based seat held by state Sen. David A. Roberti (D-Van Nuys) next year.

Roberti will be forced out by term limits and is reputedly weighing a bid for state treasurer, among other offices.

Friedman sent the Berman cover letter with a reprint of a June profile in The Times--touting her as “a comer”--to about 4,000 backers within and outside her 40th District, including women’s groups and contributors. “The article highlights Barbara’s extraordinary legislative accomplishments, and her instinctive policy-making ability,” the better-known Berman said in the three-paragraph letter.

Friedman, who paid for the mailing with campaign funds, said in an interview: “My supporters are very issue-oriented and care about results and I wanted to show them the issues I’m involved in.”

She has been closely aligned with Berman. (His brother Michael Berman, a Democratic political consultant, ran her initial, uphill campaign). Friedman reiterated this week that she is “very interested” in the Roberti seat and is “seriously considering it.” She also said she expects veteran Assemblyman Richard Katz (D-Sylmar) to enter the race--which could make for a bruising primary.

Friedman and Katz each represent half of Roberti’s 20th Senate District. But Friedman said she would have sent the letter whether or not she was eyeing the Senate contest. Berman--whose support, along with that of Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-Los Angeles) would be critical--said he had not discussed a Senate bid with Friedman. But in any case, he acknowledged that the mailing couldn’t hurt.

“It is consistent with wanting to run for reelection or wanting to run for another office,” Waxman deadpanned. “It probably is not consistent with wanting to retire.”

*

POLITICAL AMNESIA: Roberti, meanwhile, is being tight-lipped about his career plans. Los Angeles County Supervisor Ed Edelman, who represents most of the San Fernando Valley, said Roberti has promised him he will not run for Edelman’s seat in the November, 1994, election.

Edelman, who has not faced a tough fight in his 19 years on the board, is running for his fifth term. “David Roberti is a good friend,” Edelman said in an interview. “He’s assured me he’s not running against me.”

But Roberti’s press deputy, Steven Glazer, said the veteran legislator “does not recall having such a conversation.” Furthermore, Roberti is still “weighing a variety of options,” Glazer said, including the supervisorial seat, which pays an annual salary of $99,297.

*

ISRAEL-BOUND: Rep. Howard P. (Buck) McKeon (R-Santa Clarita) is making his first overseas trip since taking office in January. The lawmaker is going to Israel for five days as a guest of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, generally known as AIPAC.

McKeon, who has never been to the Jewish homeland, departs Sunday for a five-day introductory tour with a small group of colleagues. A strong supporter of Israel, McKeon received a $5,000 contribution from the pro-Israeli PAC last October.

Yet, sensitive to the journey’s political ramifications, McKeon met with members of the Arab-American Assn. and the Muslim Public Affairs Council in his district. “He sees Israel as a staunch ally of the United States and we do want to do whatever we can to expand that relationship,” said AIPAC spokesman Armando Azarloza. “But he’s certainly willing to learn more about the dynamics of the conflict.”

*

RED-HOT FUND RAISING: With the legislative session entering its final three weeks, state lawmakers are inundating lobbyists with invitations to dig deep into their pockets and contribute to just one more Sacramento campaign fund-raiser.

At least three San Fernando Valley-area lawmakers have scheduled events around the capital. Richard Katz is inviting lobbyists and their special-interest clients to a $1,000-a-person reception billed as a “Red Hot Chili Pepper, I Love Tex-Mex, Salsa, Guacamole and Ceviche” party at a riverfront eatery.

Katz, who earlier this year lost a bid to become mayor of Los Angeles, said he expects to raise at least $50,000 at next week’s gathering, but his goal is $100,000. Because he ran for mayor, Katz said, he failed to seek contributions for his legislative campaign committee. “My Assembly account doesn’t have any money in it.”

Assemblyman Bill Hoge (R-Pasadena), whose district includes Sunland-Tujunga and part of Sun Valley, is seeking to cool off lobbyists during what is expected to be an intense final week of the legislative session.

For $500 a person, Hoge, who plans to run for reelection, has scheduled an “Old-Fashioned Ice Cream Social” at a cafe Sept. 8, just two days before lawmakers are scheduled to leave Sacramento for the year.

It will cost lobbyists only $500 to eat toast with Assemblywoman Paula L. Boland (R-Granada Hills). She is asking lobbyists to join her next week “for her last Sacramento event in ’93.” The buffet breakfast is planned for A Shot of Class restaurant a few blocks from the Capitol.

Boland, who anticipates seeking reelection in 1994, said she uses campaign donations for plaques handed out to constituents, staff travel and other items for which the state does not earmark taxpayer funds.

How much money does she expect to attract from her breakfast? “As much as I can raise,” Boland said.

This report was prepared by Times staff writers Alan C. Miller, Tracey Kaplan and Mark Gladstone.