Patsaouras Considering a Run Where Roberti Feared to Tread

WILD CARD?: The odds are long and the windmill is spinning, perhaps faster than usual. But Tarzana businessman Nick Patsaouras believes that dialogue strengthens and invigorates the body politic.

Thus, the 50-year-old Greek immigrant, who ran for the Los Angeles mayor’s job last spring (placing eighth) and won kudos for the intelligence of his platform, is eyeing the seat being vacated by Los Angeles County Supervisor Ed Edelman.

So far, City Councilman Zev Yaroslavsky is the lone political colossus on the scene. In fact, Yaroslavsky’s daunting presence prompted state Sen. David A. Roberti (D-Van Nuys) to withdraw from the race before even firing a shot.

“It’s appealing, there’s no question about it,” Patsaouras said this week, referring to the Edelman opportunity. “I know the issues at the county, but no one should kid themself--Zev is a tough campaigner.”

Still, Patsaouras, who is Los Angeles County Supervisor Mike Antonovich’s appointee to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, said he will not let conventional political considerations completely guide his plans. “I don’t want to get tangled up in too many technicalities,” Patsaouras said. “The big question is, ‘Do you feel good about doing this?’ ”

Besides that, the head of an electrical contracting company believes in the debate of ideas.

“God help us,” Patsaouras said, “if only one person runs and they are anointed and crowned without a debate.”

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SPEAKING OF DAVID AND ZEV: Every relationship has its ups and downs--especially in the rough-and-tumble venue of politics. And the bond between Roberti and fellow Democrat Yaroslavsky is on the mend again.

The two powerhouse politicos will meet for lunch today, breaking bread together for the first time since Roberti shied away from challenging Yaroslavsky in the race for Los Angeles County supervisor.

Roberti spokesman Steve Glazer says there’s nothing unusual about that. “They’ve always had a cooperative and professional relationship,” Glazer said, noting that Roberti “expressed appreciation” for Yaroslavsky’s hard work on the City Council when he decided not to run.

At any rate, the state Senate leader may need all the friends he can get as he faces a recall effort spearheaded by gun-control opponents. Though they are dismissed by many as a fringe group swimming against the tide of public opinion, Glazer notes that the firearms activists pose a serious, costly threat to the man from Van Nuys.

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HAMMER TIME: Bill Spillane of Westlake Village, the ex-fighter pilot ace who ran third in the 1992 GOP primary for the 24th Congressional District seat, has ended his musings and decided to endorse Newbury Park banking consultant Robert Hammer for the same seat in this year’s primary. The seat is held by U.S. Rep. Anthony Beilenson (D-Woodland Hills). “I think he’ll be a strong addition to our team,” Hammer said this week. Spillane spent more than $200,000 of his own money in his foray in the ’92 race. The Republican primary winner that year, Assemblyman Tom McClintock, later lost to Beilenson. (McClintock is now considering a run for state controller.)

Meanwhile, Hammer has embarked on an as-of-yet low-key effort to gain hands-on experience of some of the area’s social problems. One week he was joining West Valley LAPD vice squad officers in a raid on a house of prostitution, and the next he was helping out at a homeless shelter in Thousand Oaks.

“These are not big-deal things,” Hammer said. “But instead of reading about these issues in a white paper, I’m seeing them firsthand. This campaign is about ears and voices, hearing what the voters are having to say and then giving voice to it.”

The Newbury Park businessman appears to be positioning himself for a contrast between his style and that of attorney Richard Sybert, who headed Gov. Pete Wilson’s research and planning office.

One can expect Hammer to portray Sybert, who insiders say is the favorite to win the Republican primary, as a soul-less technocrat in an ivory tower, cranking out position papers that may or may not deal with the real lives of the little people.

“We are going to run a citizen’s campaign, not a politician’s campaign,” Hammer said, even as he refused to compare his campaign to Sybert’s.