When Music Stops This Time, Some Won’t Get an Encore

In the game of political musical chairs that California voters triggered by approving term limits in 1990, there are only so many seats to go around--and inevitably, someone will be left standing when the music stops.

But despite the wishes of voters for fresh blood in state politics, few politicians willingly give up a seat, so the game has to be played out, as evidenced by several emerging local races.

Assemblymen Scott Wildman (D-Los Angeles) and Jack Scott (D-Altadena) are both serving their second terms in Sacramento, and could ostensibly hang tight and focus on securing their seats for a two-year last hurrah in next year’s elections.

But even more so than before, term limits have forced politicians to constantly cast about with an eye to the future. And state Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) has created an opportunity that is too good for either Wildman or Scott to pass up--even if it means going against each other, and the wishes of their political party.

Schiff is vacating his Senate seat, which includes Wildman and Scott’s Assembly districts and stretches from Sun Valley to Glendale and Pasadena, to run for the U.S. House of Representatives next year against Rep. James E. Rogan (R-Glendale).

Joined by more than 100 supporters in Glendale, Wildman on Wednesday did as was expected and announced he will run for Schiff’s job.

“Make no mistake about it,” Wildman told the assemblage of community activists and labor union supporters. “I’m going to run for the state Senate in 2000.”

Scott has yet to formally throw his hat in the ring, but he plans to do so soon, and has already amassed $260,000 to take on Wildman in what will be a costly primary for Democrats next spring.

Knowing their resources would be stretched by such an intraparty prizefight--both Scott and Wildman are respected in Democratic circles--state Democrats tried to talk the candidates into avoiding a clash. Similar showdowns inspired by term limits will be taking place up and down the state, including another in the San Fernando Valley, where Assemblywoman Sheila Kuehl (D-Santa Monica) will battle Assemblyman Wally Knox (D-Los Angeles) to succeed term-limited state Sen. Tom Hayden (D-Los Angeles). Hayden, a former assemblyman, hopes to return to the lower house. He will pursue either Kuehl’s seat or Knox’s; he is still trying to choose which one.

Not surprisingly, Democrats were not successful in persuading Scott or Wildman not to run, considering the likely alternative for the one bowing out would be the end of a political career, at least temporarily.

Of course, that will probably happen one way or the other. But neither Wildman nor Scott wants to hear any of that.

*

THE THIRD MAN: Third-party candidates are always facing an uphill fight, but Libertarian Ted Brown must feel like he’s going to battle with a smaller-than-usual pea shooter.

Brown, like Schiff, is planning a run next year for the House seat held by Rogan. Unlike Schiff, he has not raised close to $500,000 to do so--not to mention the more than $1 million Rogan says he has amassed.

“It really is sad,” said Juan C. Ros, the Valley-based director of the state’s Libertarian Party and a losing House candidate last year against Rep. Howard L. Berman (D-Mission Hills). “We Libertarians do not believe in campaign limits, but in a race like that, it’s basically impossible for a third party to compete.”

Although he knows the challenge will be great, Brown, who last ran for U.S. Senate on the Libertarian ticket, does not consider himself a sacrificial lamb. As long as he is invited to stump at local forums with the big boys, he will be happy, getting a front-row seat to what is already being hyped as one of the most bitterly contested House contests in the nation.

“It’s fascinating what these guys are up to, because this is a grudge match,” said Brown, a San Gabriel Valley resident. “Let’s face it: Schiff and Rogan do not like each other.”

*

A SURE THING: It’s like placing a bet after the race is over.

Newly elected City Councilman Alex Padilla of Pacoima is having no problem raising contributions to retire his campaign debt from the June 8 election. Padilla at one time was more than $120,000 in debt but says the debt is now below $100,000.

“You know how people are more willing to write a check after someone is elected,” political consultant Rick Taylor said. “They wished they had been there during the campaign.”

While Padilla was widely seen as the front-runner, some contributors, especially those who depend on City Hall for decisions that affect their business, are nervous about choosing sides before an election, for fear they might back the wrong candidate.

There is no such danger now, so Padilla is having no problem raising funds, Taylor said.

“We should be able to retire the debt in the next six weeks,” said Taylor, who is one of those owed money by Padilla’s campaign.

His first fund-raiser this month is being hosted by fellow CORO Foundation alumnus Fred Terrell, a prominent investment banker.

“I’m not worried about paying it off,” Padilla said.

*

COUNCIL CAPERS: Every two years, the president of the Los Angeles City Council gives out new assignments for council committees, invariably causing some hard feelings.

But rarely do tempers flare as they did this week. Council President John Ferraro, whose district includes part of North Hollywood and Toluca Lake, removed Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas as chair of the Information Technology Committee just as it had come under the national spotlight for taking up the issue of Internet access through cable systems.

Ridley-Thomas, who once made a run against Ferraro for the presidency, was deeply disappointed.

So it was no surprise Wednesday when the two got into a bitter verbal jousting match that ended the council meeting early on Wednesday.

It started when Ferraro chided unnamed colleagues for leaving the meeting early, threatening to break a quorum.

“We don’t want to set bad examples for the new members by leaving when you are supposed to be here until the end of the meeting,” Ferraro said.

Ridley-Thomas responded by saying he had legitimately been excused.

“Mr. Ferraro, the rules are what they are, and all of us should abide by them,” Ridley-Thomas said.

Responded Ferraro: “The rules are you are supposed to attend council meetings, Mr. Ridley-Thomas.”

Ridley-Thomas complained that others had left early.

“If you wish to break a quorum, go ahead and leave,” Ferraro said.

Shot back Ridley-Thomas: “I wish to be excused, and I do not wish to be harassed.”

Said Ferraro: “You are not being harassed. You are just a poor sport.”

Having had enough, Ferraro adjourned the meeting, preventing the council from meeting in closed session on some issues of pending litigation.

*

CAN’T LET GO: Some council members, including Laura Chick, have figured out a way to stay involved in old issues: They simply transfer them from their old committee to their new assignment.

That happened Monday, when Chick wrapped up service as chair of the Public Safety Committee by transferring several issues to the Government Efficiency Committee, which she will chair starting Monday.

LAPD contracting and budget items were referred to the new committee, as was the issue of false burglar alarms.

Kristin Vellandi, a spokeswoman for Chick, had an explanation for the councilwoman transferring the issues to her new committee.

“She is now looking to bring efficiency to public safety issues,” Vellandi said.

*

NO, THANKS: A second City Council member--Mike Feuer--has decided to forgo a 2.5% pay raise triggered July 1 for elected officials when judges received an identical pay boost.

Voters decided in 1990 to take salary decisions away from council members and tie pay to the amount received by Los Angeles Municipal Court judges. The result has been 85% raises for council members in the last nine years.

Chick has accepted only 2% of the raise that took effect July 1, the same amount received by other city employees.

Feuer said he is not accepting any raise whatsoever and has passed up all pay hikes enacted since he took office.

As a result, while his colleagues have seen their pay increase to $113,000, Feuer has continued to work for less than $100,000.

“When I was first running for office I said I wouldn’t accept any midterm pay raises because you can’t be held accountable if you are not up for election,” Feuer explained. “I’m just following through on that.”

A third member, Padilla, said he is investigating whether he can donate some of his salary to the city for public safety programs in his district.