Alarcon Backs Sanchez, but Alarcon Endorses Padilla

Does the pending divorce between state Sen. Richard Alarcon and Los Angeles Building and Safety Commissioner Corina Alarcon also signify a political split?

Sources say Corina Alarcon has tentatively decided to endorse Alex Padilla for the race to fill her husband’s former 7th District seat on the Los Angeles City Council.

That would put her at odds politically with her estranged husband, who has endorsed Corinne Sanchez in the June 8 runoff election.

Corina Alarcon said she has made a decision on an endorsement and that “it has nothing at all” to do with her marital breakup.

“I’ve talked to the two candidates and I think it’s important to support the best person in the race,” she said.

Sources say she will be one of several prominent women who will support Padilla at a news conference in the near future in an effort to counter Sanchez’s claim that she is the woman’s candidate. Women make up about 53% of the registered voters in the district, so both candidates are planning to target women in their runoff campaigns.

Padilla said backing from Corina Alarcon would be important.

“She’s a building and safety commissioner and a well-respected leader of the northeast San Fernando Valley, particularly on domestic-violence issues,” Padilla said.

A Sylmar resident who owns an insurance firm, Corina Alarcon is a board member for a domestic-violence shelter in the northeast Valley.

She had planned to run for the council seat herself, with her husband’s support, but she bowed out of the race at the last minute, causing the senator to switch his support to Sanchez.

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FUEL FOR ACTIVISM: The Los Angeles City Council is known for jumping on bandwagons. But the ride the council caught Wednesday may require alternative fuel.

Community activists called weeks ago for a one-day boycott of gas stations on April 30 to protest hikes in gasoline prices.

On Wednesday, the City Council voted unanimously to support the “Great Gas Out,” urging city employees and residents to abstain from the purchase of fossil fuels on Friday.

The boycott is an attempt to send a message to oil companies that gas price increases are excessive and have outraged the public, said Councilman Joel Wachs of Studio City, who offered the motion.

“It is speaking the one language the oil companies understand--that is the pocketbook language,” Wachs told his colleagues.

Councilwoman Laura Chick of Tarzana urged colleagues to leave their city cars home and use alternative transportation.

Councilwoman Ruth Galanter urged council members to rent an electric car for the day.

However, many were skeptical about how much city employees will contribute to the boycott. In fact, many city vehicles fuel up at city-owned gas pumps, and the city has not canceled orders to have the pumps filled.

Councilman Nate Holden said the boycott is important, but he acknowledged that it may not cause any financial hardship for the oil companies.

“I don’t think they are shaking in their boots,” Holden said. “If you don’t buy it for one day, the next day you have to double up anyway. I think we’re just making a statement.”

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LOST CAUSE?: Not since the ’98 Chicago Cubs have so many people rallied around a cause facing such long odds.

The Valley Industry and Commerce Assn., the Burbank City Council and the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors have announced their support for Studio City attorney David Fleming to be reappointed to the state Transportation Commission.

Executives of the Walt Disney Co., NBC and Warner Bros. have sent letters of support, as have a long list of legislators, including Democrats Robert Hertzberg, Sheila Kuehl and Tom Hayden.

However, even Fleming, a Republican, said the avalanche of bipartisan support is likely to be for naught because Gov. Gray Davis, a Democrat, is expected to appoint someone from his party to the panel.

“My sense is that it’s really a situation where he’s not ready to appoint a Republican,” Fleming said. “It’s a longshot.”

A spokesman for Davis said Wednesday that the governor has not made a decision on the last two commission seats.

Mayor Richard Riordan has spoken to Davis on Fleming’s behalf.

Even if he does not get the appointment, Fleming said he has felt great about the bipartisan support he has garnered from Southern California political leaders.

“I really think transportation is so apolitical,” he said. “When your car is stuck on the freeway, it doesn’t matter if you are a conservative or a liberal.”

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POLICE HEROES: An awards presentation Tuesday for the National Assn. of Police Organizations was a little less tense after one of the four winners, Rep. James Rogan of Glendale, decided not to run against another award recipient, U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein.

Rogan said Tuesday that a desire to spend more time with his family caused him to decide against challenging Feinstein.

Feinstein and Rogan were among four federal legislators honored Tuesday at a Washington event held by the national group of police unions for their commitment to legislation benefiting law enforcement.

Rogan is being recognized for co-sponsoring the “National Assistance for Police Officer Safety Act of 1999,” which permits officers to carry concealed weapons.

Feinstein is being honored for opposing mandatory Social Security for public employees.

* SHOW OF SUPPORT

Susan McDougal, defendant in Whitewater probe, says case against Michelle E. Holden, wife of Pasadena mayor, is politically motivated. B10