SUNLAND-TUJUNGA : Wachs to Introduce 3 Candidates in Race

The three candidates for honorary mayor of Sunland-Tujunga--a chef, a telecommunications executive and a black Labrador/German shepherd--will be introduced by Los Angeles City Councilman Joel Wachs at a community forum Thursday in Tujunga.

“I don’t know if he (Wachs) knows about the dog yet,” said Gail Koretz, a spokeswoman for Wachs.

The candidates are Wolfgang Schweinberger, owner of Chef Wolfgang’s Country Kitchen in Tujunga; Dick Starr, an AT&T; executive, and Farley, a 12-year-old dog owned by Michael Lucas, proprietor of a one-hour photograph store in Sunland.

The honorary mayor’s office is a symbolic, two-year post that holds no political or legislative power. The honorary mayor serves as a spokesperson for the community and presides over neighborhood functions and fund-raisers.

The Sunland-Tujunga Chamber of Commerce sponsors the contest, which is won by the candidate who sells the highest number of $1 tickets. Each ticket sale counts as one vote. Half of the proceeds goes to the chamber; the other half goes to the candidates’ favorite charity or service organization.

Farley, a well-known, friendly dog and a fixture in Lucas’ photo studio, was entered in the race as a joke, Lucas said.

But after a dispute with the other candidates over the propriety of Farley’s participation in the race, Lucas and Dan Skywalker, the manager of the store, got serious. They made posters, published “Friends of Farley” newsletters and have been interviewed by national and international media.

Though the chamber considers Lucas the real candidate for honorary mayor, Lucas and Skywalker say Farley’s the top dog. Meanwhile, in an attempt to cash in on some of the hound’s publicity, Starr adopted a stuffed dog named Spot as his mascot, and Schweinberger may have his photograph taken with a wolf, his campaign manager said.

The three candidates will appear at a public meeting and roast beef dinner at 6 p.m. Thursday at Elks Lodge 2098, 10137 Commerce Ave., Tujunga. Farley will be there for Wachs’ introduction, but will not attend the roast beef dinner, Skywalker said.

Tickets for the dinner will be sold for $15 at the door Thursday.