A Fresh Take on Politics

Open political seats don’t come around very often. Politicians--from City Council on up--tend to hang onto their seats for as long as possible, often leaving only when the opportunity for higher office presents itself. But open seats are becoming more and more common as term limits force out incumbents. It can be a mixed bag for voters, but experience so far in the San Fernando Valley reveals that there are plenty of able citizens eager for the opportunity to lead their communities.

When Richard Alarcon left his City Council seat to take on a new job as a state senator for the northeast Valley, he created a void some feared would be difficult to fill. But last week, 10 candidates filed papers announcing their intention to run for Alarcon’s seat--giving voters a wide range of choices in the April election. That’s healthy and bodes well for the future as term limits open more of the Valley’s City Council seats.

Of those vying to replace Alarcon, all have talents to recommend them. Corrine Sanchez, whom Alarcon has already endorsed, has served the northeast Valley as president of the health services agency El Proyecto Del Barrio. Alex Padilla works as an aide to Assemblyman Tony Cardenas (D-Sylmar). Raul Godinez II is the former mayor of San Fernando and works for the city of Los Angeles as a civil engineer. Ollie McCauley helps develop affordable housing. Barbara Perkins is an assistant to the president at Mission College. Connie Acebo Rodriguez is a teacher. Tony Lopez is a district director for the Boy Scouts of America. Dudley Chatman is a pastor. Some are ordinary nonpolitical residents who think they can make a difference. Alfredo Urrutia Jr. is a student and David Silva is a carpenter.

Within weeks or even days, the politics will roll in earnest as the front-runners hire the best consultants they can afford. They know the largely Latino 7th District is an important, high-profile seat and that the race likely will be decided by a runoff election in June. It is an election that will be watched--and undoubtedly manipulated--by political power brokers up and down the state. For now, though, a large and varied field of candidates can only improve the quality of debate as new players try to solve old problems with fresh ideas.

That’s what voters had in mind when they passed term limits legislation--a rejuvenation of the political process. It doesn’t always turn out that way. Politicians simply switch districts and run for a different office, and some Sacramento insiders bemoan the lack of experience in new legislators. But as the race for Alarcon’s seat shows, change can be good. And Valley voters will get more of it in the next few years. City Council members Hal Bernson, John Ferraro and Joel Wachs all are running for their final terms.