Picus Won’t Seek Supervisor Edelman’s Seat : Politics: The former councilwoman’s decision is seen as strengthening the 3rd District candidacy of Zev Yaroslavsky.

Former Los Angeles City Councilwoman Joy Picus said Tuesday she will not run for the seat on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors being vacated by retiring Supervisor Ed Edelman, which strengthens the candidacy of Councilman Zev Yaroslavsky.

Her decision eliminated a potential big-name opponent for Yaroslavsky, a declared supervisorial candidate widely viewed as the front-runner.

Last week, another well-known potential foe, state Senate leader David A. Roberti (D-Van Nuys), said he would not run for Edelman’s seat.

Edelman’s 3rd District covers much of the San Fernando Valley and the Westside. Yaroslavsky, who has more than $223,000 available for his supervisorial campaign, has represented a largely Westside constituency since 1975.

Picus, who was defeated for reelection to her southwest Valley council post in a bitter June battle with Laura Chick, said she decided against running for supervisor in order to spend more time with her family and friends.

“I’m enjoying my friends and family and getting reacquainted with personal life, and I’m going to continue to do that,” said Picus, adding that she was not ruling out a run for another office in the future.

Picus acknowledged that Yaroslavsky was a “formidable opponent” but denied that his well-known fund-raising abilities and strong Westside political base dissuaded her from making the race.

“I have really good ties on the Westside. Possibly better ties on the Westside than he has in the West Valley,” said Picus, a longtime Woodland Hills resident who had represented West Valley districts on the City Council since 1977.

Picus, a Democrat, said she did not conduct any public opinion polling for the race, because she “didn’t have the wherewithal to do that.” But she said political advisers had told her there was room in the race for a Valley woman and that many supporters had urged her to run.

The only declared candidate in the race, besides Yaroslavsky, is Don Wallace, a retired Los Angeles County Fire Department captain. Wallace ran unsuccessfully against Supervisor Mike Antonovich in 1991.