Valley Officials Cut Bait as Old Tradition Is Cast Aside

A four-decade tradition is ending for the San Fernando Valley’s political “old boys network,” and some trout in the Sierra Nevada Mountains are better for it.

Starting in 1954, a group of Valley political heavyweights led by then-City Councilman Robert Wilkinson of Northridge began trekking up to Mammoth Lakes for the annual opening of trout season.

Over the years, the number who made the annual trip swelled to 18, including council members Hal Bernson of Granada Hills, Ernani Bernardi of Van Nuys and Robert Farrell. Larry Calemine, executive director of the Local Agency Formation Commission, was a regular for years. So was Police Chief Bernard Parks’ dad, and a host of judges and city fire chiefs.

“It was a tradition,” Wilkinson said. “All it was was a bunch of guys going up there to play cards and fish and tell stories.”

It also stirred up controversy. There were some news stories about how they received free use of some city Department of Water and Power cabins, which forced the group to start paying their way.

But in recent years, some of the gang has stopped going, and with trout season opening this week, Bernson said Wednesday that 1999 was probably his last year.

“We’re getting old,” said Bernson, who is turning 70.

Agreed Wilkinson, 79: “It’s pretty much faded out.”

Every one who went said they have fond memories of practical jokes and good times. But times change.

Greig Smith, Bernson’s chief of staff, said he used to go every year and enjoyed the chance to relax with friends, but he stopped going some years ago.

“It was too cold, too crowded, and Wilkinson’s a bad cook,” Smith said.

BACKTALK: Councilwoman Ruth Galanter got under the skin of Councilman Bernson this week by dismissing the Valley secession movement as “a great temper tantrum.” Bernson said, “I think my colleague’s remarks were unfortunate and probably the worst thing anybody could say who wanted to keep the city together.” Berson is a onetime Valley secessionist who now says he’s “neutral” on the issue.

THANKS, BUT . . . : Even at age 13, Theo and Niko Milonopoulos can appreciate that politics often provide a fertile field for irony.

The fraternal twins from Studio City received city certificates of appreciation at the Los Angeles City Council meeting Wednesday for their efforts to push for passage of gun-control legislation in the city.

The two students from Campbell Hall School have made many appearances at city commission and council meetings urging passage of tough legislation. They received the city’s “Angels Over L.A.” award on Wednesday.

“Their tenacity and their perseverance have made Los Angeles safer for kids just like them,” said Councilman Mike Feuer during the ceremony. “They are role models for other kids.”

While the two boys said they were honored by the council ceremony, they were quick to point out that their proposal to ban all sales of gun ammunition in the city has been stuck for months in the council’s own Public Safety Committee.

Apparently, the certificate was not enough to placate the twins.

“We hope they will stop delaying it,” Niko said of the ammo ban after the council’s applause had died down.

HAIL TO THE CHIEF: After five months operating without a chief of staff, Councilman Alex Padilla of Pacoima has finally hired a top advisor away from a council colleague.

Padilla, who at 27 is the council’s youngest member, has baffled City Hall colleagues who have said that if anyone needed a chief of staff, it is him.

Elected last year, his early tenure has been marked by missteps and setbacks.

His first chief, Juliette Martinez, was a newcomer to City Hall.

To fill the post, Padilla has picked City Hall veteran Monique Kagan, who has served for the last four years as chief legislative deputy for Councilwoman Galanter.

For Kagan, 35, the appointment is something of a homecoming. She grew up in Mission Hills and went to Kennedy High in Granada Hills, a rival of Padilla’s San Fernando High.

An attorney, Kagan worked for a year at San Fernando Valley Neighborhood Legal Services in Padilla’s district.

“We found out when we talked that we shared a common vision--improving the lives of people in the northeast San Fernando Valley,” she said.

Padilla said he values Kagan for her City Hall experience and said she is smart.

“She knows personally what the issues are in the northeast Valley,” he said.

FACEOFF: The race for the 41st Assembly District pits experience against desire. At least that is what the first debate between the Republican and Democratic nominees seemed to suggest.

As Democrat Fran Pavley touted her wide range of government experience at a candidates forum this week, her GOP rival, Jayne Murphy Shapiro, countered that she offers voters her willingness to serve the district.

“It does not take an educator to fix our educational system. It does not take an environmentalist to fix the environment,” said Shapiro, a child advocate.

“You can learn an issue by reading it,” she said. “You need to talk to the people to understand it. And you need to listen.”

But Pavley, a schoolteacher and member of the California Coastal Commission, warned members of the Tarzana Property Owners Assn. on Tuesday night that with term limits, their next representative should “hit the ground running.”

HERE TO SERVE: Padilla opened a new field office in Sun Valley this week, and already it has paid off with better service to one constituent.

Padilla had closed another office in Sun Valley a few months ago, drawing criticism that he was cutting back on service.

“This new location is larger. It’s newer. It means I can better serve my constituents,” Padilla said of the office at 8135 San Fernando Road.

The councilman’s claim was quickly put to the test. The new office includes space for a police officer to work a few days a week.

On the day the office opened, a call came in that a suicidal man was seen walking on nearby railroad tracks.

“The officer ran out the door and got there in time to stop the man,” Padilla said.

Staff writers Michael Finnegan and Jean Guccione contributed to this story.