Rosenthal Backs Katz for Senate

Former Assemblyman Richard Katz won a key endorsement Wednesday in his bid to return to Sacramento by securing the support of the man he hopes to replace, state Sen. Herschel Rosenthal.

Katz will face off against Los Angeles City Councilman Richard Alarcon to represent Rosenthal’s ethnically diverse district in the northeast San Fernando Valley, in what is expected to be this year’s hottest legislative race.

Term limits are forcing Rosenthal, a Van Nuys Democrat, to leave the job this year after 16 years in office.

Katz, who himself was forced out by term limits in 1996, also won the endorsement of U.S. Rep. Howard Berman (D-Mission Hills), who has represented parts of the Valley for many years.

The two endorsements give Katz crucial momentum at the start of what is expected to be a bruising and expensive campaign. Alarcon had lobbied for the same endorsements.

But observers say endorsements rarely decide the outcome of a campaign.

“It gives you credibility, but it doesn’t win you a race,” said Rick Taylor, a veteran political consultant. “But I think you have to give him high marks for getting the endorsements.”

Endorsements play a lesser role when voters already have a clear idea of who the candidates are--as is the case with Katz and Alarcon, who have been political fixtures in the Valley for years.

Money is also expected to play a big role.

Katz, a former Democratic Party leader with close connections to powerful unions and lobbyists, is expected to benefit the most from a judge’s decision last week to throw out the fund-raising limits imposed by Proposition 208.

But Larry Levine, a longtime political consultant from Van Nuys, warned against underestimating Alarcon’s fund-raising abilities and his potential support from Latino lawmakers in Sacramento.

“I don’t think anyone should sell Alarcon short in this race,” he said.

Alarcon, the first Latino elected to the council from the Valley, is a savvy and well-connected politician who would make a strong addition to the Latino caucus in Sacramento. Levine and others believe Latino lawmakers in the Legislature may be willing to make hefty contributions to help Alarcon win the job.

Katz, a Democrat from Sylmar, was forced out of office after he helped the Democrats win control of the state Assembly. A month after Katz left Sacramento, Assembly Speaker Cruz Bustamante named him to the California Medical Commission, a job that pays $75,600 a year--the same salary he earned as a lawmaker.

During his 16 years in the Assembly, Katz worked closely with both Rosenthal and Berman, who had also served in the state Legislature before becoming a congressman.

“I enthusiastically endorse Richard Katz to take my place in the state Senate,” said Rosenthal. “Richard is a legislator of exceptional talent who has a no-nonsense approach to anti-crime legislation.”

Katz acknowledged that the endorsements are helpful but not vital to his campaign.

“I am very grateful to have them and appreciate them,” he said. “This is still very significant.”

Alarcon downplayed the endorsements, saying he knew that Berman would endorse Katz long before he decided to seek the state Senate post.

“I wouldn’t have jumped into the race if I felt it was that significant,” Alarcon added.

For his part, Alarcon said he has the support of Mayor Richard Riordan, City Atty. James K. Hahn, Assemblyman Tony Cardenas (D-Sylmar) and former Mayor Tom Bradley.