Some Incumbents Find Term Limits’ Silver Lining

It might have seemed strange to hear Los Angeles Council President John Ferraro congratulate three colleagues for winning reelection, particularly with nearly two months to go before the April 8 contests.

But it wasn’t just a case of extreme optimism. At least two incumbents are in the fortunate position of running unopposed this spring.

Council members Richard Alarcon from the San Fernando Valley and Mike Feuer, who represents parts of the Valley and the Westside, raised a combined total of $214,000 for their reelection bids only to find that none of their challengers qualified for the ballot.

A third council member, Jackie Goldberg, who represents Hollywood and Silver Lake, has raised $53,300 and may also run unopposed. Election officials are trying to determine whether her lone challenger has collected enough signatures to qualify for the ballot.

If Goldberg gets lucky like Alarcon and Feuer, it would be the first time since 1969 that so many City Council members at once have run unopposed--a testament not only to the advantage enjoyed by incumbents but to the deterrent effect of term limits approved by city voters in 1993. Would-be candidates would rather wait until a seat becomes vacant than challenge a powerful incumbent, political pundits say.

“Why run against somebody who is term-limited if you can plan ahead for four years,” said Raphael J. Sonenshein, a political scientist at Cal State Fullerton. “I bet you are going to see a lot of unchallenged candidates in the future.”

Automatic name recognition among voters and ready access to professional campaign contributors such as lobbyists and business leaders all make unseating a popular incumbent “an unbelievable uphill battle,” said Howard Sunkin of the political consulting firm Cerrell & Associates.

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Sunkin said he could only think of a handful of incumbents who lost reelection bids in the last 12 years.

In April, six council incumbents are seeking reelection to their second four-year term. A seventh incumbent, Feuer, will be able to run again in four years because he was elected to finish an uncompleted term left when Zev Yaroslavsky resigned to run for county supervisor.

But even the incumbents who face challengers are expected to win easily. Most of the challengers have only raised a fraction of the money accumulated by the incumbents. Several have raised no money at all and have yet to form a campaign committee.

The most hotly contested council race is expected to be for the seat being vacated by retiring Councilman Marvin Braude, whose sprawling 11th District stretches from the San Fernando Valley to Pacific Palisades. That race has attracted four candidates, including Braude’s former chief of staff Cindy Miscikowski and Georgia Mercer, a former aide to Mayor Richard Riordan. Between the two, they have raised about $318,000.

What will Goldberg, Feuer and Alarcon do with their election kitties? All said they plan to hold community forums to discuss neighborhood issues such as crime, street repairs and park construction. Some of the campaign funds will be spent to organize and advertise the meetings.

The unopposed incumbents attribute their “free ride” in part to term limits. But they also see it as a sign that their constituents are content with their work and do not feel strongly about replacing them.

“I do consider this a pat on the back, but I do recognize that the community is in need of more,” said Alarcon, who represents the Northeast San Fernando Valley cities of Pacoima, Sun Valley and Sylmar.

Still, Alarcon and the other unchallenged incumbents say they will not stay at home and coast into a second term.

Feuer, who represents Westwood, Bel-Air, the Fairfax district and parts of Sherman Oaks and Studio City, plans to use some of his campaign funds to publish a brochure telling constituents whom to call to have potholes repaired and trees trimmed, among other city services.

Alarcon, whose district is largely comprised of working class and industrial neighborhoods, said he would use some of his free time to promote a citywide crackdown on liquor stores that sell alcohol to minors. He said a yearlong crackdown on liquor stores in his district has been successful.

Alarcon also plans to publish a brochure that tells residents how to identify and address neighborhood problems, such as abandoned vehicles.

“This means I don’t have to focus as much energy on the campaign and I can focus on work,” he said.

A wise move, according to Sonenshein, who said: “It’s a free ride but you should take advantage of a free ride.”

Political consultant Parke Skelton, who is running Goldberg’s reelection bid, added: “It’s a good opportunity after four years to go out into the community and get input on what they want Jackie to do in the next four years.”

But Sunkin believes it is also an opportunity for incumbents to try to increase their profiles in preparation for a bid at a higher office, such as mayor or state legislator.

Sonenshein agreed, saying ambitious politicians can never rest. “It is a golden opportunity to build more and more support,” he said.