For 4 Valley Incumbents Election Is No Contest

A former boot salesman, U.S. Rep. Howard “Buck” McKeon knows the importance of a good fit. The Santa Clarita Republican is seeking his fourth term, and for the first time, faces no major party opposition.

The reason: “I fit the district very well,” McKeon said. “It’s a very conservative district, and I’m conservative.”

Of course there are other reasons Democratic challengers have kept away, including the power of incumbency and money. Those factors have helped place McKeon and three other incumbents who represent areas of the San Fernando Valley in enviable positions: They face no major party opposition in November.

The others are U.S. Rep. Howard L. Berman (D-Mission Hills), Assemblyman Tom McClintock (R-Northridge) and Assemblyman Tony Cardenas (D-Sylmar).

“It’s a reflection of the temper of the times,” said veteran political consultant Allan Hoffenblum. “There is no zeal to run unless you have a chance to win.”

The benefits of not having to wage a full-scale campaign, according to McKeon, include having the luxury to focus on work instead of campaigning. “It’s a relief,” said McKeon, who is working to ensure that the Joint Strike Fighter jet is built in California. “Instead of worrying about campaigning, I can focus on planning for the next term. . . . It gives me a head start.”

For Cardenas, not having to face a formidable Republican challenger has allowed him to spend more time with his wife and four young children.

“I happen to be one of the lucky ones,” said Cardenas, whose only challenger on the November ballot is Libertarian Christopher “Kit” Maira.

Beating someone with Cardenas’ ties to the Valley’s northeast Latino community or 16-year veteran Berman’s name recognition and political connections is certainly no easy task. Although no major party candidates are running, others are willing.

Maria Armoudian, a member of the Green Party, is one of three candidates, including those of the Natural Law and Libertarian parties, waging campaigns against Berman. Armoudian said she hopes the fact the Republican Party failed to field a candidate will work to her advantage, although she acknowledges it’s unlikely she’ll win.

“It’s been very, very difficult to beat out an incumbent, especially in an entrenched district,” said Armoudian, who is getting her message to voters with the help of a talking billboard. “I think people mostly vote on name recognition.”

For his part, Berman acknowledged that his long tenure has its advantages.

“I’m not going to argue with you,” Berman said. “It doesn’t hurt.”

Berman said he believes his record has discouraged opponents, noting that he has led the fight in Washington to get funds for more police in the San Fernando Valley and to restore the Hansen Dam recreation area.

“While I’m sure I take some stands that some people in my district don’t believe in, I’d like to think they at least believe I’m making the Valley a better place to live,” Berman said.

Major Parties Now Pick Their Battles

In state and local races, many officeholders are unchallenged because potential opponents think it makes more sense to wait until term limits force the incumbent out.

But congressional seats have no term limits, so the decision is more complicated. Political consultants and party loyalists say there are about twice as many congressional incumbents in the state this year who are running without major party opposition than in the past.

With the growing costs of congressional campaigns--many starting at over $1 million a piece--the Republican and the Democratic parties are being more selective in deciding where to spend their limited resources.

“Both parties have probably left more seats uncovered than in previous years,” said Dan Sellack, a spokesman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

Instead, he said his party focuses on races in which the chance of winning is at least fair.

“The key here is you don’t leave marginal opponents without an opponent,” Sellack said.

And marginal is not a word that fits either Berman or McKeon--or for that matter Cardenas or McClintock. Recent voter registration records show that Democrats outnumber Republicans in Berman’s district 58.80% to 33.52% and that Republicans outnumber Democrats in McKeon’s district 45.87% to 37.74%.

Registration is more lopsided in Cardenas’ district, with Democrats outnumbering Republicans 61.12% to 21.53%. The exception is McClintock’s district, where Democrats slightly outnumber Republicans, 43.18% to 40.66%.

Nonetheless, political observers are quick to point out that the district, which straddles Simi Valley and the San Fernando Valley and includes a portion of Thousand Oaks, is well known for electing conservative politicians.

Known as a tightfisted legislator, McClintock, who began his career in the Assembly 16 years ago, made headlines during the recent session for his successful efforts to reduce the state’s car tax. His only challenger in November appears to be Democrat Jon M. Lauritzen, who launched a write-in campaign last spring.

Trying to find a Democratic candidate to run in a Republican stronghold or vice versa can be a difficult task for party leaders.

“We try to recruit candidates, but some people see the uphill battle and don’t want to get into the fray,” said Art Torres, chairman of the California Democratic Party.

Those who choose to challenge a popular incumbent say they face a tough fight for recognition and funds.

Consequently, when Democrat Diane Trautman launched a write-in campaign prior to the June primary in an effort to get her name on the November ballot opposite McKeon, she failed to garner enough votes. Trautman, who unsuccessfully challenged McKeon in 1996, described running against a well-financed incumbent like McKeon as a difficult but necessary task.

“Even in a district when you have a difference in voter registration like ours you still have to have someone getting out the message,” she said. “When you don’t have that, things get skewed.”

Strategies Shift With the Electorate

McKeon’s lone challenger in November is Libertarian Bruce Acker, a Chatsworth businessman who has spent roughly $300 on his campaign. Acker said his main reason for running is to help spread the word about the Libertarian philosophy.

“It’s pretty much a foregone conclusion that this is a Republican district,” Acker said. “But my philosophy is to always challenge authority.”

McKeon’s party, meanwhile, is planning challenges of its own. Mike Madrid, political director of the California Republican Party, said the GOP is eyeing Cardenas’ district. Madrid said the district’s burgeoning Latino middle class will grow increasingly conservative as its members continue to buy homes in the area.

“The tendency to vote Republican increases threefold once you buy a home,” Madrid said. “Your views change . . . you’re thinking of starting a family, about the quality of schools and public safety.”

Republicans have been targeting new homeowners, particularly those with Latino surnames. The party is also hoping to groom a Latino candidate to run in the district.

“We need to put a Latino face on the party,” Madrid said.

Cardenas said Republicans are wrong to believe that Latinos will cross over and vote Republican.

“I think the Latino community is starting to become more sophisticated and more involved. They won’t forget which party got involved in issues like Prop. 187,” said Cardenas, referring to the controversial measure to bar illegal immigrants from attending public schools and receiving social services and health care.

“The Republican Party is very strongly identified with moving that forward, and they’re going to have to live with that.”