Valley Leaders Begin to Feel Congress Shift : Politics: As the GOP readies to control the House, local Democrats and Republicans prepare for very different roles.

As the impact of this week’s election results began to sink in, some of the San Fernando Valley’s senior Democratic congressmen were glumly stashing away their gavels while eager Republicans eyed the prized committee chairmanships that may come their way in the new GOP-controlled House.

The Valley saw no changes in the membership of its congressional delegation, but Election Day brought dramatic shifts in the power balance as three influential Democrats with a combined half-century of Washington experience slipped into the minority party.

“The Valley wins some and loses some,” political consultant Marc Litchman said. “The Democrats are going to have a tougher time, but there are Republicans like Carlos Moorhead who are going to benefit.”

Thrilled with ascendancy of their party, the local Republican delegation--including Moorhead (R-Glendale) and up-and-comer Rep. Howard P. (Buck) McKeon (R-Santa Clarita)--vowed to fill the void with the newfound power they will wield on Capitol Hill.

McKeon aide Armando Azarloza described his boss as “like a little kid in a candy store” as he talked with House leaders this week and eyed a subcommittee chairmanship and a seat on the powerful Armed Services Committee.

The big winner may be Moorhead, the senior member of the Valley’s delegation, who is a contender for the chairmanship of the Energy and Commerce Committee or the Judiciary Committee.

Both jobs could help the region: Energy and Commerce handles telecommunications, aerospace and cable television, while Judiciary grapples with copyright issues that are essential for the entertainment industry.

Moorhead’s appointment, however, is a not sure thing as Rep. Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.), the next House Speaker, has said he intends to bypass the seniority system in choosing some committee chairs and as some party leaders have criticized Moorhead for not being aggressive enough.

“Entrenched incumbency by Democrats has made it really difficult to make changes,” said Moorhead, eagerly awaiting the start of his 12th term. “Now we have an opportunity.”

That opportunity will come at the others’ expense.

For instance, Rep. Anthony C. Beilenson (D-Woodland Hills), elected in 1976, will lose his chairmanship of a powerful Rules subcommittee, which acted as the gatekeeper for much significant legislation. He is expected to face a tougher time in his aggressive support for the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.

“I think we’ll all hold back a little bit and see what the Republicans do,” said Beilenson, who won reelection in a hard-fought contest with GOP challenger Richard Sybert. “We’ll be reacting a lot more. We’re going to have to relearn our roles as the loyal opposition.”

Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-Los Angeles) will lose his chairmanship of the powerful House subcommittee on health and the environment, which he used to take on the tobacco industry and push for a ban on smoking in public places.

In line to succeed him is Rep. Thomas J. Bliley Jr. (R-Va.), a supporter of tobacco interests who intends to call off investigations of the industry.

“I won’t have the staff resources or the ability to call hearings or schedule bills for votes, but I will still be able to fight for what I believe in,” said Waxman, first elected in 1974.

Both parties were preparing for a political climate unlike what the country has experienced in 40 years.

“I think the dynamics are going to change dramatically for both Democrats and Republicans,” said Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-Simi Valley). “There is not one Republican in the House of Representatives who has ever been in the majority party. We’ve never been chairmen of committees. We’ve never gotten to control the agenda.”

Gallegly is seeking the chairmanship of the subcommittee on international law, immigration and refugees, an ideal location to rewrite the nation’s immigration laws. Just elected to his fifth term, Gallegly intends to push for an end to automatic citizenship for undocumented immigrants born in the United States and the creation of tamper-resistant immigration documents.

Along with the musical chairs, some House committees may be eliminated entirely because Gingrich has vowed to radically reorganize the committee structure. In addition, he intends to slash congressional staff by one-third to one-half, which would disproportionately affect Democrats.

Besides smaller staffs and less power, some Democrats can expect smaller offices as Republicans move into the more spacious suites offered to committee chairs.

Stung by the sudden changes, local Democrats had little time to relish their reelection victories as they prepared for a new, more humble role in Washington.

“I’m going to have to find a way as a member of the minority party to help my district,” said Rep. Howard L. Berman (D-Panorama City), who will lose his chairmanship of the subcommittee overseeing the State Department. “While it will be humbling, I’ll have to find other ways to push my agenda.”