Valley’s Power Grows in Sacramento

The San Fernando Valley can expect to wield even more political muscle in Sacramento in the next two years as voters returned several veteran lawmakers to the capital.

Assembly Speaker Bob Hertzberg (D-Sherman Oaks) was breezing to an easy win in his central Valley district. In fact, most Democrats dominated.

“There will be a lot of power from the Valley,” said U.S. Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Sherman Oaks) from Democratic headquarters in Encino. “Especially with Speaker Hertzberg.”

“If things come in as I expect, he will have strengthened his hand, by electing even more Democrats than before.”

Hertzberg said that the Valley’s representation would continue to be “extremely strong.”

“This is as good as it gets,” Hertzberg said from the Democratic party bash at the Biltmore Hotel. “With me as speaker, [Assemblyman Tony] Cardenas as the budget chair, [Sheila] Kuehl in the Senate, this is a seasoned group of people representing the Valley.”

Kuehl and Jack Scott (D-Altadena) cruised to victories in their first bids for the state Senate. In a race to succeed retiring Sen. Cathie Wright (R-Simi Valley), Assemblyman Tom McClintock (R-Northridge) also seemed poised for a win after a well-financed campaign against Simi Valley Democrat Daniel Gonzalez, who raised little money.

In their new political roles, Kuehl and Scott will join other powerful Valley veterans in the state Capitol, including Hertzberg and Assemblyman Tony Cardenas (D-Sylmar).

This means that a San Fernando Valley-friendly cadre of largely Democratic heavy hitters will hold key legislative positions.

For Kuehl and Scott, the big race was in the primary.

In the heavily Democratic 23rd Senate District, Kuehl won one of the most expensive primary battles in state history against well-regarded friend and political ally, Wally Knox (D-Los Angeles).

Two hours after the polls closed, Kuehl had garnered about two-thirds of the vote to replace Sen. Tom Hayden (D-Los Angeles).

Although a Republican and a Libertarian were on the ballot Tuesday, Kuehl was so certain of her election victory that she closed her campaign headquarters after the March primary. She spent a quiet evening at home Tuesday cooking spaghetti for her closest friends and watching the presidential returns.

“I had my party in March,” the former Assembly speaker pro tem said. “I just decided it would be irresponsible to spend any money on my campaign when other people need it more.”

In anticipation of her victory, Kuehl held a weeklong September retreat in Los Angeles for her staff to build an agenda and acquaint them with parts of the 23rd District they didn’t know.

As a senator she said she hopes to work on issues of civil rights both at work and at school. She said she also plans to examine storm water runoff issues for her beachfront district, and to continue protection of the Santa Monica Mountains.

Like Kuehl, Scott’s fiercest competition for the 21st District Senate seat was in the primary, when he fought a fever-pitch campaign against Assemblyman Scott Wildman (D-Los Angeles). But the general election was no walkover for Scott.

In this hotly contested area that has gradually shifted from predominantly Republican to Democrat in recent years, the former Pasadena College president faced real competition from Hong Kong-born businessman Paul Zee.

But before midnight Scott had already declared victory.

“We are very encouraged that we have won this election,” Scott said in a victory speech to supporters. “We have done things because you have inspired me--gun control, health care and standing up for consumers. All of those things I promise to continue to do. . . . I think maybe I could get used to this title of senator.”

Scott said he looked forward to joining fellow Valley legislators in the Senate.

“I’ve worked on family legislation with Sheila Kuehl in the Assembly and I look forward to working with her again as the new senator,” Scott said. “I know very well that with Valley senators like Alarcon, we could focus on Valley issues.”

He said he hopes to hone in on mass-transit issues, especially the Pasadena Blue Line. He said he would also be willing to use his clout in the legislature to “make sure LAUSD gets in line,” if politicians can’t handle it locally.

In the 19th Senate District, which includes most of Ventura County and parts of the San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys, McClintock also faced his stiffest competition in a costly and bitter primary. He won that race against Ventura County Supervisor Judy Mikels.

Early returns saw McClintock leading his Republican opponent in Ventura County nearly 2-1, and by a slightly slimmer margin in Los Angeles County.

From Republican headquarters at the Marquie Theater in Camarillo, McClintock said he would make reordering the state’s public works a priority, to redesign the service and delivery system, and to return tax savings to the people.

He said he also looks forward to rebuilding the state’s highway system, with the support of the state’s Democrats.

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Times staff writers Annette Kondo and Zanto Peabody contributed to this story.