Valley Secession Group Still Backs Its Leader

Leaders of the San Fernando Valley secession drive rallied Friday behind their standard-bearer, Jeff Brain, saying his move outside the Valley and his failure to pay taxes over most of the last 11 years are irrelevant to their campaign.

But some other Valley separatists said Brain’s tax delinquency and departure from the city of Los Angeles threaten to undermine the movement’s credibility. They called on Brain to step down as president of Valley VOTE, the group pushing for separation from Los Angeles.

In a statement, the Valley VOTE board applauded Brain’s “tremendous commitment to advance the cause of Valley independence with very little compensation in return.

“Valley VOTE has full, complete and unshaken confidence in Jeff Brain,” the statement said.

The Times reported Friday that Brain has failed to pay $61,000 in taxes, penalties and interest to the city, state and federal governments. Liens filed against him by state and federal tax collectors show that he remains delinquent on income taxes for 1990 through 1997, and for 1999. In June, the city of Los Angeles won a Small Claims Court judgment against Brain to collect $4,001 in city business taxes due last year for his work as a real estate broker.

Some Valley VOTE board members voiced mild concern Friday about Brain’s failure to pay taxes.

“From the perspective of being a leader of the group, obviously the image isn’t there that we would want,” said Valley VOTE board member Carlos Ferreyra. “But these are matters that he has to resolve on his own. I don’t think it’s an issue for Valley VOTE.”

But secession advocates unaffiliated with Valley VOTE called Brain a detriment to their fight to create a new city north of Mulholland Drive. Harry Coleman, president of the North Hills Community Coordinating Council, said Brain’s financial troubles reflect “poor management” skills.

“Until he gets out of there and we get new leadership, we’ll never sell secession,” Coleman said.

Former Rep. Bobbi Fiedler, Coleman’s wife, also called on Brain to resign, citing both his tax troubles and his decision to move last year from Sherman Oaks to Glendale, a city just east of the Valley.

The Valley VOTE statement said Brain made a “temporary move” last year after he “met and became involved with an individual who happened to live in Glendale.

“Jeff Brain has lived in the Valley for over 25 years, and he has been looking for a home back in the Valley for the past several months,” the statement said. Brain declined to comment.

Brain’s tax troubles provided fodder Friday for secession critics.

“It’s like the blind leading the blind,” said City Councilman Nate Holden, a secession opponent whose district is in central Los Angeles. “Either this project has credibility or it doesn’t, and the guy who heads it, his credibility seems to be in question.

“He no longer lives in the city; therefore, he has no standing,” Holden added. “He’s out of here. Good riddance.”

Bert Boeckmann, the Galpin Motors magnate and Valley VOTE benefactor, said Brain had done “an outstanding job” on secession, and his tax delinquency and residency were private matters.

“I would almost feel it’s inappropriate to put that kind of information in the newspaper,” Boeckmann said.

On Thursday, Brain said the liens overstate his tax debt, which he put in the range of $30,000 to $40,000. He also said he would challenge the judgment that the city won against him for unpaid business taxes.