Braude’s Legacy Colors Race to Succeed Him

For the first time in more than three decades, residents of Los Angeles’ 11th City Council District won’t have Marvin Braude to vote for anymore.

But his legacy and endorsement are expected to color the race to succeed him as representative of the largest, richest, and best-educated district in the city.

Its 73 square miles, bisected by the Santa Monica Mountains, include ritzy hillside enclaves stretching from Woodland Hills to Encino, Pacific Palisades to Brentwood. Poorer parts of Van Nuys and the West Los Angeles flatlands are included as well.

By virtue of their endorsements and successful fund-raising, the top contenders are Braude’s former longtime chief of staff, Cindy Miscikowski, 48, of Brentwood, and Mayor Richard Riordan’s former West Valley liaison, Georgia Mercer, 55, of Tarzana.

Businessman Mark Isler, 49, of Van Nuys, is the third candidate in the nonpartisan race that has drawn a surprisingly small field in light of the district’s history of civic involvement.

Two other hopefuls, Doug Friedman, a Brentwood administrator, and Russ Cook, a Tarzana real estate broker and former animal regulation commissioner, have turned in nomination petitions but have not yet qualified for the ballot.

The candidates face voters at a pivotal moment in city history. Reform is in the air and on the ballot. Residents are demanding more of a say in municipal government and want a council member willing to share power.

But looking at the 11th District from other areas of the city that are beset with all manner of urban woe, one might ask, what’s the problem?

At $74,209, the mean household income in the 11th District is the highest in Los Angeles and $32,000 higher than the city as a whole. One of every 3.4 adults over 25 have college degrees, more than any other council district. As of the last census, 72% of the district’s residents were white.

Amid the clipped lawns and hedges live many of the beautiful people, along with the mayor, district attorney and, yes, O.J. Simpson.

But viewing the district from within--and in historical perspective--problems seem clear and vexing: What happened to the suburban dream?

With growing traffic, a crumbling infrastructure and worse, residents are frustrated that their success, education and all the armed patrols money can buy won’t bring the sense of safety and comfort that was once taken for granted.

After announcing his retirement following 32 years in office and being heavily courted, Braude endorsed Miscikowski. It is the key endorsement in the race.

“We have almost a magical relationship,” Miscikowski said of her mentor.

Councilwoman Ruth Galanter and Assemblyman Bob Hertzberg (D-Sherman Oaks) are also backing Miscikowski.

Mercer has lined up endorsements from popular retired U.S. Rep. Tony Beilenson, City Councilwoman Jackie Goldberg and the San Fernando Valley Assn. of Realtors. She also has support from Jewish community leaders and women’s groups.

Mercer said running for office is a “natural evolution” of her community activity.

Those seeking to separate the two on issues will be hard-pressed. Both back Riordan for reelection and his charter reform proposal.

On the matter of the Valley secession bills, both favor the version of the bill that calls for a citywide vote.

Their differences lie more in background and place of residence than their views or similar styles.

At a sparsely attended campaign forum last week in Sherman Oaks, both women portrayed themselves as problem-solvers.

Mercer noted she was co-founder of the Juvenile Justice Connection, a widely respected program for high-risk youth in the Valley.

Miscikowski reminded the audience of the numerous night meetings in the Valley she attended while hammering out a development plan for Sherman Oaks.

But because many Valley residents harbor strong feelings that they are being shortchanged by City Hall, the race could turn into a showdown between the two parts of the divided district.

Attorney David Fleming, who is running the mayor’s charter reform campaign, said it matters greatly to him that the council member lives in the Valley.

“The Valley is driving change in the city of Los Angeles,” said Fleming, who has endorsed Mercer.

Miscikowski may face a potential problem with voters because of her marriage to attorney-lobbyist Doug Ring.

Although Ring quit city lobbying more than a year ago in hopes of defusing the issue, it was raised by someone at the campaign forum this week.

Miscikowski responded that Ring has taken on no projects in the 11th district since they became a couple a decade ago.

The third candidate, Isler, a businessman and conservative talk show host, says crime is the issue.

Isler got a late start and expects to have just $45,000 to work with, compared to the $300,000 spending limit the other candidates agreed to.

But he promises to provide a contrast to the views of his opponents by pushing a conservative agenda focused on crime, education and Valley secession, which he supports.

“I think I’ll make it interesting,” Isler said.