Special Election Is Called for Council Seat Held by Ferraro

The Los Angeles City Council ordered Wednesday a special election on Sept. 11 to fill the council seat of the late John Ferraro, a race that has already attracted eight candidates, including former state Senate President Pro Tem David Roberti.

Even before Wednesday’s council action, fund-raising papers had been filed with the city by hopefuls such as Roberti, Los Angeles Community College Board member Beth Garfield, and former Ferraro aide Tom LaBonge.

Ferraro died April 17 after a long bout with cancer. He was 76 and had served the 4th Council District for 35 years. His death triggers a special election to fill out the nearly two years remaining on his term. City Clerk Mike Carey estimated that 15 to 20 candidates will run for the seat, and the special elections will cost $560,000.

If needed, a runoff election will be held Oct. 23.

“It will be a very competitive race, and it’s going to be an expensive race,” said political consultant John Shallman, who is not affiliated with any of the contenders. “There is still time for others to get in, but it looks like a solid group of candidates so far.”

Shallman predicted that the top candidates will exceed $1 million in combined spending. He said Garfield and Roberti appear to have advantages because of fund-raising ability and government experience, but he said LaBonge also is a viable contender.

The district extends from Toluca Lake, Studio City and North Hollywood in the San Fernando Valley to Hancock Park, the Miracle Mile, and parts of Hollywood, Los Feliz and Silver Lake.

Garfield, an attorney and resident of Larchmont Village, said her experience in turning around the financially troubled college district will help her improve city operations.

“The city is really coming apart at the seams, fundamentally because of a lack of basic city services,” said Garfield, who is married to former state Assemblyman Wally Knox.

Roberti, who served in the Assembly from 1967 to 1971 and the state Senate from 1971 to 1994, is a Los Feliz resident who now serves on the state Integrated Waste Management Board.

LaBonge said his seven years as an aide to Mayor Richard Riordan and 15 years working as Ferraro’s chief field deputy give him the best understanding of the district and its constituents.

“The big issue is who is best able to serve this district well,” said LaBonge, a Silver Lake resident who is director of community relations for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.

LaBonge received a boost this week when Riordan threw his support behind his former aide.

Riordan had been torn between LaBonge and city Library Commission President David A. Lehrer, who with his fellow panel members renamed the Central Library after Riordan last month.

“It breaks my heart not to support him, but Tom is my guy,” Riordan said. “Tom has been so loyal to me since I first ran for mayor that I’ve got to support him.”

But Riordan said he had not yet broken the news to Lehrer, the Anti-Defamation League’s regional director. And Lehrer insisted that Riordan might still support him.

Other possible candidates who have not yet filed include mayoral chief of staff Kelly Martin and Studio City Residents Assn. President Tony Lucente.

Several lesser-known community activists have filed papers to begin fund-raising, including paralegal Denise Munro Robb, president of the Miracle Mile Action Committee, who said that overdevelopment and historic preservation are among the issues that most interest her.

Merle M. Singer, a resident of the Hollywood Hills, said running for the council is a “natural progression” of her activism in the community to improve the quality of life and reduce crime.

As a landlord in Hollywood, Singer heads the Yucca Corridor Coalition. She also has served as co-chairwoman of the Community Police Advisory Board for the Hollywood police station.

Fund-raising papers also have been filed by developer and former 4th District candidate Benjamin Lucas, homeowner activist Linda Lockwood and neighborhood leader Richard MacMinn.

Times staff writer Michael Finnegan contributed to this story.