Lively Valley Primary Races Form

Most San Fernando Valley-area congressional representatives face no opposition in the March 7 primary, but seven open seats in Assembly and state Senate districts promise lively local contests.

Friday was the filing deadline for candidates to enter the primary. In Valley-area races, there are three open seats in the Senate and four in the Assembly.

Here’s a district-by-district look at the races.

Assembly

The four open Assembly seats in the Valley drew a broad array of candidates, from Los Angeles Department of Water and Power General Manager S. David Freeman to conservative activist Susan Carpenter-McMillan, who gained the national spotlight as Paula Jones’ spokeswoman.

“We’re in for some really interesting races,” Democratic political consultant Larry Levine said.

* 41st District: Five Democrats are running for the seat held by Sheila Kuehl of Santa Monica, including Freeman, former Agoura Hills Mayor Fran Pavley, former Santa Monica City Councilman Tony Vazquez, Brenda Gottfried and William Wallace. Republicans Jayne Shapiro and Stefan “Stu” Stitch will duel it out in the GOP primary. Libertarian Colin Goldman is unopposed. The district stretches from Santa Monica to Woodland Hills.

* 42nd District: Three Democrats will face off in the primary for the seat now held by Wally Knox of Los Angeles: Daniel Stone, a physician; Amanda Susskind, a city attorney, and West Hollywood City Councilman Paul Koretz. Running unopposed are Republican Douglas Cleon Taylor, Green Party candidate Sara Amir and Natural Law Party candidate Ivka Adam. The district includes the south Valley along the Santa Monica Mountains.

* 43rd District: Three Democrats and three Republicans are in primary contests in this Glendale-Burbank district, now represented by Scott Wildman of Los Angeles. The Democrats are health educator John Hisserich, former city ethics Commissioner Paul Krekorian and Dario Frommer, who headed the campaign for Proposition 217, which would have reinstated upper tax brackets for the highest-earning Californians. The GOP candidates are attorneys Mark MacCarley and Craig Missakian, and businesswoman Elizabeth Michael.

* 44th District: There are four candidates in the Democratic primary: Barry Gordon, an attorney and former Screen Actors Guild president; La Canada Flintridge Mayor Carol Liu, businessman Victor Franco and businesswoman Diana Peterson-More. In the GOP primary, Carpenter-McMillan, businessman Damian Jones and Robert Wagner will compete. Libertarian Jerry Douglas is unopposed in the district, which includes La Crescenta and Sunland-Tujunga.

* 39th District: Incumbent Tony Cardenas of Sylmar is unopposed in the Democratic primary. Republican Enrique Valdez, a letter carrier, and Libertarian Christopher “Kit” Maira, a film producer, are unopposed.

* 40th District: Incumbent Robert Hertzberg of Sherman Oaks is unopposed in the Democratic primary. In GOP primary, Encino businesswoman Eunice De Leuw squares off against Van Nuys accountant Kyle Hammans. Libertarian Kelly Ross is unopposed.

Senate

Major primary battles are expected in the 19th, 21st and 23rd districts.

* 19th District: Two prominent Republicans, Assemblyman Tom McClintock of Northridge and Ventura County Supervisor Judy Mikels, are vying to replace state Sen. Cathie Wright, who is leaving office because of term limits. This district includes east Ventura County and northwest Los Angeles County.

* 21st District: Democratic Assemblymen Jack Scott of Altadena and Wildman are vying for the seat being vacated by Sen. Adam Schiff, who will seek the Democratic nomination in the 27th Congressional District.

In the GOP primary, South Pasadena Councilman Paul Zee will face Glendale broadcaster Dave Wallis. Libertarian Bob New is running unopposed. The district includes Burbank, Glendale and Pasadena.

* 23rd District: This district that bridges the West Valley to the Westside by straddling the Santa Monica Mountains is primed for a showdown between two well-known Democratic Assembly members barred from reelection by term limits: Kuehl and Knox. The high-stakes primary battle very likely will determine which of the two liberal allies, who consider themselves friends, will succeed state Sen. Tom Hayden. Joining the fray are Republican Daniel Rego and Libertarian Charles Black.

* 17th District: State Sen. William “Pete” Knight (R-Palmdale) is unopposed in the primary. Also running unopposed are Democrat Richard Lott, Libertarian John Gibson and Natural Law Party candidate Douglas Wallack in this Antelope Valley district.

Congress

Rep. Howard P. “Buck” McKeon (R-Santa Clarita) is the only one of six local congressional representatives facing primary opposition. He faces Hal Brent Meyers, a Lancaster income tax consultant, in the 25th District race.

Running unopposed in their primaries are Democrat Sid Gold, Libertarian Bruce Acker and Natural Law Party candidate Mews Small. The district includes the Santa Clarita and Antelope valleys.

In other primary races:

* 27th District: Rep. James Rogan (R-Glendale) is running unopposed in the primary, but is expected to face a tough challenge from Schiff in November. Libertarian Ted Brown and Democrat Howell Armand Hargett are running unopposed in this Glendale-centered district.

* 24th District: Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Sherman Oaks) is running unopposed, while GOP hopes of a good fall fight dimmed when Jeff “Skunk” Baxter, the former Doobie Brothers guitarist, decided not to run. That left the GOP with Irv Rubin, the controversial leader of the extremist Jewish Defense League, and actor Jerry Doyle in the primary. Libertarian Juan Carlos Ros is unopposed.

* 26th District: Rep. Howard Berman (D-Mission Hills), Libertarian Bill Farley and Natural Law Party candidate David Cossak are all running unopposed.

* 29th District: Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Los Angeles), Republican Jim Scileppi, Libertarian Jack Anderson, and Reform Party candidate Brian Stransky are all unopposed.