Adam Schiff to face six contenders in primary election

Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) is facing six opponents to represent the redrawn 28th Congressional District, but they will have to overcome incredible odds and funding disadvantages to mount a serious challenge to the long-time congressman.

Schiff raised $725,559 in 2011, bringing his total campaign cash on hand to more than $2.1 million, according to the Federal Election Commission.

He’s also led several high-visibility initiatives in the past several months, such as working to stop proposed funding cuts to Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s Mars program and pushing the U.S. Forest Service to reinstitute night flights when battling wild fires.

“I think it will be an exciting campaign,” Schiff said. “I look forward to meeting my opponents and discussing the issues.”

Three local residents have entered the Congressional race.

Jonathan Kalbfeld, who lives in La Crescenta, is a software engineer at JPL and owner of Thoughtwave Technologies, which provides a variety of services including web hosting and secure voice and video communications.

Kalbfeld, a Democrat, said he supports returning the top tax rates to their pre-2003 levels and rolling back the tax cuts approved during the Bush administration.

He also believes in reproductive choice, marriage equality and gun rights. He wants to restore funding to NASA because he feels space exploration has inspired generations of children to excel in math and science, which he says is key for the United States to remain an innovative country.

Glendale resident Garen Mailyan, a Republican, is a security officer who holds a master’s degree in political science from Cal State Northridge.

He believes the U.S. government should take a more direct role in printing currency and that the Federal Reserve and IRS should be dissolved.

He thinks banks should not be able to loan more money than they have available in actual deposits, and he would work to disband groups that he feels are working secretly to create one world government.

Massie Munroe, a civil engineer who lives in Glendale, was born in Tehran and speaks five languages from that region.

A Democrat, she would support the advancement of nano-technology to revive the county’s struggling economy. She would also work to improve the U.S. education system by basing it on newer technologies, and would strive to pass bills that enhance women’s rights for all ethnic groups.

Four other candidates are vying to represent the 28th Congressional District.

Sal Genovese, who lives in Hollywood, coordinates volunteers at the Los Angeles Hospice and is the former director of the Head Start program in the city of San Fernando.

A veteran and Democrat, he wants to establish a national job-creation program, which would include retraining for people who need new skills to find employment as well as tax incentives for small businesses to create new jobs.

He would also introduce a one-year moratorium on foreclosures, and work to come up with loan modification options to help relieve the housing and mortgage crisis.

Los Angeles resident Phil Jennerjahn is a political consultant who ran for L.A. mayor in 2009 and U.S. Congress in 2010.

A Republican, Jennerjahn said he would work to dismantle the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

and defend the 10th Amendment, which is intended to protect state sovereignty as well as, to an extent, individual rights.

He would also increase the country’s energy options by allowing more drilling and oil/gas leases and permits, and he would work to end the current tax structure.

Republican Jenny Worman, who has worked in the entertainment industry for more than 20 years as an actress and writer, lives in West Hollywood.

She would support efforts to bring entertainment jobs back to California by promoting a more business-friendly environment and extending tax credits.

She would try to overturn the National Defense Authorization Act and favors ending U.S. occupation in foreign countries.

The seven candidates will face-off in an open primary on June 5 with the top two vote-getters — even if they’re from the same party — advancing to the general election in November.