Valley Political Leaders Anticipate Their Support of Hahn Will Pay Off

The many San Fernando Valley political leaders who helped engineer mayor-elect James Hahn’s victory are already looking forward to reaping the benefits.

Hahn won the Valley by 54.7%, compared with 53.5% citywide, according to a Times analysis of returns. In Northridge and Granada Hills, he won 67% of the vote, one of the largest margins in the city.

Hahn was helped by a Who’s Who of Valley civic leaders and power brokers, including car dealer and Police Commissioner Bert Boeckmann, former Planning Commission president Ted Stein, and tudio City attorney and Fire Commission President David Fleming. Richard Close, who heads the secession group Valley VOTE, and former U.S. Rep. Bobbi Fiedler also supported Hahn.

But foremost among them was Alex Padilla, the Pacoima councilman who risked the wrath of fellow Latino leaders by backing Hahn over Antonio Villaraigosa.

“A Mayor Hahn administration is going to be great news for the Valley,” Padilla said. “It’s no secret that the Valley played a key role in his election, and he won’t forget that.”

Padilla himself enjoys a special place in Hahn’s circle of friends. He was on stage clasping hands with Hahn in a victory salute when the results came in Tuesday night, and Hahn plans to give Padilla the oath of office for his next term at a ceremony July 1 in Mission Hills.

Padilla said he has been able to increase city services in his traditionally neglected district in part because of his past alliance with Mayor Richard Riordan, who endorsed him in his 1999 election.

“Now, with an even better relationship with Mayor Hahn, it’s going to mean bigger and better things for my district,” Padilla said.

Padilla has already pressed Hahn for more appointments from his district to city commissions. Only nine of the city’s 366 commissioners come from his district.

The mayor-elect is aware of the key role the Valley played in his election and the importance of addressing the concerns of residents in a portion of the city that is threatening to secede, according to those close to him.

“During my campaign, I said that as mayor, I would work to ensure that all parts of the city receive their fair share of city services, and I am going to work hard to fulfill that commitment,” Hahn said.

Hahn also vowed to make sure the Valley is not shortchanged when it comes to appointments.

“The Hahn administration will reflect the diversity of our city, and the Valley will be represented in city government,” Hahn pledged.

Another Hahn backer, Councilman Hal Bernson of Granada Hills, has made it clear that he wants to retain his powerful position on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority board, something within Hahn’s power because he has three appointments to the panel, according to Greig Smith, Bernson’s chief of staff.

“Certainly, the fact that Hal endorsed him means it will help us carry on strong discussions with the mayor over issues important to us, from the MTA to Sunshine Canyon Landfill,” Smith said.

Fleming said he has let Hahn know he wants to keep his position on the Fire Commission.

He also has talked to Hahn about taking steps to improve local control of decision-making in the Valley, a major issue for secessionists. In particular, Fleming said Hahn was open to hearing a proposal to create a borough system in Los Angeles that would give elected officials in the Valley more control over the local budget and planning priorities.

Julie Wong, a spokeswoman for Hahn, said the mayor-elect is focused on making a proposed network of neighborhood councils more effective.

Fleming said he has also bent Hahn’s ear on the need to improve mass transit in the Valley. The region’s subway system ends in North Hollywood, and MTA officials are now considering a high-speed busway, rather than heavy rail, to cross the Valley from east to west.

“There needs to be a little more focus put on the Valley,” Boeckmann said. “That is one of the things driving secession.

Close predicted many of the requests by Hahn’s supporters will find a friendly ear, but not just because they endorsed Hahn.

After all, a county agency studying Valley cityhood may put the matter on the ballot as early as November 2002.

“In an effort to convince people that cityhood is not needed, there will be a greater emphasis on making sure the Valley gets its fair share of city services and resources,” Close predicted.

Hahn’s big win in the West Valley wiped out some huge losses in the predominantly Latino northeast Valley, including Padilla’s home district.

One factor in Hahn’s loss there may have been that the County Federation of Labor, which helped sweep Padilla into office two years ago, backed Villaraigosa.

Villaraigosa won convincingly in Arleta-Pacoima, where he captured 71% of the vote, according to a Times analysis of returns. Padilla’s council district voted 66% for Villaraigosa.

Some Valley political activists suggested that Padilla and Assemblyman Tony Cardenas of Sylmar, another Hahn supporter, may have intentionally held back on campaigning in their districts, fearing that a big turnout of their largely Latino constituency would help Villaraigosa.

“They were not very visible,” said community activist Cynthia Valdez of Sun Valley, a Villaraigosa supporter. “I think they deliberately did it.”

Padilla said that 70% of his campaign appearances for Hahn were outside the district, but he disputed those who suggested that he intentionally avoided his home turf.

“Absolutely not,” Padilla said, who made three appearances with Hahn in the district. “We did everything we could, from going door to door to making phone calls.”

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The Valley Vote

Voters in the San Fernando Valley were divided over who should be the next mayor, with Villaraigosa the favorite in much of the northeast Valley and Hahn winning the West Valley, the northwest, and much of the Valley’s southern region.

Source: City of L.A.

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Times staff writer Doug Smith contributed to this story.