Santa Monica Mountains : Sybert to Join Conservancy

Gov. Pete Wilson on Tuesday announced the appointment of former senior aide Richard P. Sybert to the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, a move expected to raise Sybert’s standing as a Republican challenger to Rep. Anthony C. Beilenson (D-Woodland Hills).

Sybert, 41, will replace Roger Gertmenian on the policy-making board of the conservancy, a state agency that acquires parkland in the Santa Monicas and neighboring hills and mountains, and provides grants to local park and conservation groups.

Gertmenian, a member of the board since 1984 when he was appointed by then-Gov. George Deukmejian, said he was not surprised by Sybert’s appointment, adding he was pleased to have served under two governors.

Sybert resigned in October from his post as state planning director and head of the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research, moving to Woodland Hills to open a law and land-use consulting firm. Although he has made no formal announcement of his candidacy, he said late Tuesday that he intends to run next year for the Republican nomination to represent the 24th Congressional District, which includes portions of Malibu, Thousand Oaks and the San Fernando Valley.

The appointment may give Sybert a leg up on other Republican hopefuls and is sure to annoy supporters of Beilenson, a nine-term Democrat who sponsored the legislation that created the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.