Rogan and the 27th District
* Rep. James Rogan (R-Glendale) has a minority core of loyalists already putting together a war chest for their hero. But money may not get him reelected in 2000, as it did recently when he outspent his weak rival 2 to 1 and, even so, squeaked by with just 50.2 % of the vote of his largely Democratic constituency.
Rogan and his 27th District are oppositely metamorphosing: Rogan was posing as a Republican moderate until his hard-liner zealotry was bared nationally, but back home here his constituency daily grows more Democratic. So he is far from a hero to the majority.
Add to this mix the fact that Democrats need to win a mere 6 seats in order to retake the House, with a big spotlight on two seats in particular, those of Rogan and Bob Barr (R-Ga).
Being in the minority party in the House might not sit well with an openly ambitious politician. Then, too, there are the lucrative legal spots in the private sector likely to be offered profusely to Rogan and the rest of the anti-Clinton juggernaut.
All in all, his loyal fund-raisers should not hold their breath about Rogan running again. If logic counts at all, he and his district have already outgrown each other.
VAL SANFORD
Woodland Hills
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