Rogan Begins His Campaign for Reelection

Louie Barrell and Bill Koval are the kind of voters that Rep. James Rogan (R-Glendale) needs if he is to win reelection in a predominantly Democratic district after he helped lead the unsuccessful effort to remove President Clinton.

Barrell, a Democrat, did not agree with Rogan’s decision to pursue impeachment, but he said he still may vote to give Rogan a third term in Congress, despite a strong challenge by Democratic state Sen. Adam Schiff of Burbank.

“I didn’t think what he did was the right thing on the impeachment, but I still like him for everything else he does and believes,” Barrell said Saturday after Rogan walked his block of Canyon Drive in Glendale.

Koval, Barrell’s neighbor, said Rogan’s role in trying to impeach the president will be a strike against him when Koval decides who to vote for in November for the 27th Congressional District.

“It’s a minus in my mind,” said Koval, who is undecided. “It [impeachment] was making too big of an issue out of something that wasn’t going to go anywhere anyway.”

Rogan, the former prosecutor and political big-game hunter who couldn’t bag his biggest prey, formally kicked off his race for reelection Saturday, holding a rally for 100 volunteers at his new campaign headquarters in Glendale before heading out to Canyon Drive to stump for votes.

The congressman acknowledged that his role as a House prosecutor in the Clinton impeachment proceedings could hurt him with some voters, but he has no regrets and hopes residents of the district will recognize that he had an obligation to take up the role he did.

“People may not agree with me on every issue, but they cannot accuse me of political cowardice,” Rogan said.

Everywhere Rogan went Saturday, the “i” word--impeachment--was brought up.

In introducing Rogan at the rally, Pasadena Republican activist Jeff Hammill said his wife had asked him over breakfast: “If Bill Clinton is the one who has done something wrong, why is Jim Rogan in danger of losing his job?”

“This man did nothing wrong,” Hammill said of Rogan, who has no opposition in the Republican primary in March.

Rogan may be the Democrats’ No. 1 target to unseat this year, but the congressman drew a cheer from the enthusiastic crowd Saturday when he reassured Hammill, “I ain’t losing my job.”

Rogan used his speech to highlight his commitment to cut taxes and government, but many in the crowd said Rogan’s role in the impeachment proceedings is a main reason they are walking precincts for the congressman.

“The reason I am so emphatic in my support is his brilliant prosecution of our lying, law-breaking traitor in the White House,” said Fred Akins of La Canada Flintridge.

Rogan’s hero-like status among many Republicans nationwide has helped him raise nearly $3 million already for what may be the most expensive House race this year.

His status as a villain in the eyes of many Democrats has also triggered nationwide financial support for opponent Schiff, who has raised $1.1 million, double what any other House challenger in the country has raised.

Schiff, the leading Democratic candidate, faces Howell Armand Hargett in the March primary. Hargett, whose number was unlisted, could not be reached for comment.

In an interview, Schiff, a former federal prosecutor, did not use the word impeachment, but criticized Rogan for neglecting his congressional district for the national spotlight.

“The most pressing issue in this campaign is why we have had no representation in Congress on a whole host of important district issues, from public schools and public safety to preservation of open space,” Schiff said. “The district simply has not been a priority for him. He has been more engaged in national partisan ideological crusades than in issues important to the district.”

In particular, Schiff said Rogan has not played a leadership role in efforts to save the 238-acre Oakmont property from development in Glendale. Rogan counters that he secured federal funds for an appraisal to settle a dispute over the property’s worth.

Schiff also accused Rogan of being out of step with the district in voting against a bill banning assault rifles. Rogan said he does support reasonable restrictions on assault rifles and authored restrictions on juvenile access to guns.

“He [Schiff] has misstated my record,” said Rogan, who received a medal of freedom award from the National Rifle Assn.

In turn, Rogan said Schiff moved into the area in the early ‘90s to pursue his political career and therefore does not have the same ties to the district that he does.

“I come from this area. My children are third-generation Glendalians,” Rogan said.

In a district that is 45% Democratic and 37% Republican and where Democrats are gaining 1% or 2% each year, Schiff plans to hammer on Rogan’s conservative record, saying he is “an ideologue out of step with his constituents.”

Schiff said he has seen polls that show him slightly ahead of the incumbent, who he described as being “to the right of [North Carolina Sen.] Jesse Helms.”

“That is not our district,” Schiff said.