Hahn and Villaraigosa Begin Wooing Valley

Convinced that the San Fernando Valley is key to his mayoral hopes, City Atty. James K. Hahn shepherded a flock of prominent Valley leaders to his side Thursday to accept a string of endorsements.

Among the Valley “A Team,” as Hahn dubbed them, were many of the leading backers of Valley secession. Hahn opposes breaking up the city, but said he is committed to improving services for Valley residents who feel slighted by City Hall.

Standing shoulder to shoulder with Hahn at his Tarzana campaign headquarters, several backers admitted that the choice between the veteran city attorney and former Assembly Speaker Antonio Villaraigosa, whom Hahn will meet in the June 5 runoff, had not been easy.

“They’re both fine gentleman,” said Fire Commissioner David Fleming, who chairs the San Fernando Valley Economic Alliance. “This is like two people applying for the job of a CEO. And who do you pick? You pick the one with experience.”

Hahn’s effort in the Valley underscored the influential role that he and Villaraigosa believe Valley residents will play in their attempts to succeed Mayor Richard Riordan.

More than two of every five Valley residents voted for two candidates no longer in the race--businessman Steve Soboroff and City Councilman Joel Wachs--and those voters represent one of the largest uncommitted blocs up for grabs on June 5.

Villaraigosa drew the support of 28.1% of Valley voters, almost identical to Soboroff’s 28%. Hahn drew 15.9% and Wachs 15.6%.

Both hahn and Villaraigosa signaled their interest in the Valley by making their first appearances there on Wednesday, the first day of the runoff campaign.

Councilman Hal Bernson, who represents the northwest Valley, said he tried to persuade Villaraigosa to run for an open council seat rather than jump into the mayor’s contest.

“I think in eight years, Antonio would have made a great mayor,” Bernson said. “But with term limits, we need somebody like James Hahn, someone who already knows how things work and can get along with the City Council.”

Also giving Hahn the nod were Police Commissioner Bert Boeckmann and his wife, Jane, the publisher of Valley magazine; Richard Close, chairman of the secession group Valley VOTE; former Rep. Bobbi Fiedler; and former Assemblywoman Paula Boland.

Villaraigosa also has drawn support from some Valley stalwarts, including former Assemblyman Richard Katz, a Valley VOTE board member, and several homeowners association leaders such as Gerald Silver and Bill Jasper of Encino, Gordon Murley of Woodland Hills and Polly Ward of Studio City.

Both candidates lessened their public efforts Thursday and planned to regroup over the holiday weekend before returning full-force to the campaign.

On Wednesday, Hahn proposed to Villaraigosa that they debate once a week until the election, starting the week of April 23, and suggested that each debate be televised by at least one major station.

Parke Skelton, a consultant for Villaraigosa, said the former assemblyman will debate the city attorney, but that both staffs have to negotiate the specifics of timing and format.

*

Times staff writer Matea Gold contributed to this story.