Sybert Cozies Up to Supporters of Beilenson : Politics: GOP candidate emphasizes similarities between him and former election foe. But comparisons don’t please the outgoing Democrat.

Now that his rival is retiring, congressional candidate Rich Sybert is trying to portray himself as a chum of Democratic Rep. Anthony C. Beilenson, whose district stretches into Thousand Oaks.

And Beilenson is not exactly thrilled.

In a recent letter to Beilenson supporters, the Republican Sybert downplays the differences between him and the outgoing congressman, long known for his liberal viewpoint.

“On matters of conviction, we shared many views,” Sybert says in the letter. He also quotes Beilenson as saying about Sybert: “You were a great candidate and I would be proud to serve with you in Congress.”

Sybert said the affectionate remark was made during a private conversation between the two when Sybert called Beilenson to concede the election in November 1994.

Beilenson, however, offered a somewhat different view in a recent interview.

Asked how he would feel if Sybert is elected to replace him, Beilenson said: “It would not make me feel good. I thought about that when I made my decision [to retire] and I decided I couldn’t make the decision based on that. I thought maybe I should stay around two more years just to ensure that he is not elected. . . . I don’t think he’ll get here.”

The Beilenson camp was not pleased by Sybert’s effort to make the pair seem friendly.

“Anyone who knows Mr. Sybert understands that this is just the latest example in his record of misrepresentation and hypocrisy,” said Beilenson spokeswoman Kaye Edwards Davis. “It’s just another calculated attempt to seem to be everything to everybody.”

The gulf between the two is very likely to remain.

Beilenson said he did not particularly appreciate Sybert’s recent effort to have part of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreational Area named after him--especially because the gesture came while Sybert was pushing a libel suit against Beilenson accusing him of “sleazeball and gutter politics.” Sybert says Beilenson falsely and maliciously besmirched the contender’s reputation in campaign mailers.

Sybert said he offered Beilenson the opportunity to apologize before he filed the lawsuit but Beilenson refused. Even now, with the suit still pending, if Beilenson were to issue a public apology, it would help resolve the matter, Sybert said.

“I want to represent the whole district and rise above the partisan games we’re seeing in Washington,” Sybert wrote in his letter.

But Beilenson’s staff sees the lawsuit and the letter as a bit contrived.

“He is trying to make it appear to the congressman’s friends and longtime supporters that the congressman is his friend and supporter,” Davis said. “Nothing could be further from the truth.”