Rep. Berman Considering Running for Mayor of L.A.

After months of speculation, Rep. Howard L. Berman (D-Panorama City) publicly acknowledged Friday that he is giving serious consideration to running for mayor of Los Angeles in the April 1997 election.

Although he is not the first Democrat to express interest in the mayor’s race--state Sen. Tom Hayden is another potential candidate--Berman’s political clout is such that even an exploratory bid is potentially bad news to Mayor Richard Riordan, according to some political professionals.

Top Riordan advisor William Wardlaw attended Berman’s breakfast speech before a new public affairs group, Public Policy Series, and took notes, several observers said. Also in attendance were labor and business leaders and Los Angeles City Council members Rita Walters and Mark Ridley-Thomas, who are openly critical of the current administration, which they say has turned its back on the black community.

If he decides to run, Berman has political strength on the Westside and in the San Fernando Valley. That, coupled with his allegiances in the African American and Latino communities, would make him a serious challenger, political experts say.

“He can try and put back together the [Tom] Bradley coalition of African American, Jewish and liberal voters,” said Republican political consultant Allan Hoffenblum. “If anybody can do it, he can.”

But Berman said he is still not sure if he wants to end his career in the House of Representatives, where he is the ranking Democratic member of the International Relations Committee.

“I have to decide first of all if I want it and second, if it’s doable,” Berman said. “I’m mulling all that over.”