Cardenas Takes Another Shot at City Council Post

After narrowly losing his first Los Angeles City Council race last year, former Assemblyman Tony Cardenas is hoping that his second will finally land him a seat at City Hall.

Cardenas, who was defeated by Wendy Greuel in the 2nd District race last March, is considered a strong favorite to represent a reconfigured 6th District in the San Fernando Valley after Tuesday’s election.

The termed-out assemblyman is running against businessman Jose Roy Garcia, who founded the Valley’s United Nations Youth Soccer League. Political analysts say that although Garcia has long-standing ties to the community, his campaign is struggling. So far, he has only raised $1,000 for his bid and has lent his campaign $9,000.

In contrast, Cardenas, 39, has raised more than $300,000 for his latest effort, allowing him to paper the district -- which includes all or parts of North Hollywood, Van Nuys, Panorama City, Sun Valley and Pacoima -- with mailers touting his candidacy. He also has the backing of City Council President Alex Padilla, who is hoping to strengthen his so-called Latino Coalition at City Hall.

The two candidates have differed more in style than substance.

Both have relied on the traditional promises of cleaning up the streets, trimming trees and filling potholes in the working-class neighborhoods of the district. They also have called for the closure of the Bradley Landfill -- the most pressing issue in the district.

On a recent afternoon, Cardenas visited the Fickett Towers Senior Center, where he told residents that he would make it safe for them to walk the streets.

“My No. 1 priority is basic city services,” Cardenas said later. “I want to make sure people will get what they pay for. They want safe streets. They want clean streets. They want programs for kids. We want to make sure the Valley is getting its fair share.”

Cardenas is running for a different seat the second time around because of last year’s redistricting.

As part of an effort to give the Valley more clout in city government, the City Council redrew district boundary lines, moving the Westside’s 6th District to the predominantly Latino northeast Valley.

The new lines placed Cardenas, who lives in Panorama City, in the new 6th District instead of the 2nd District.

Shortly after the boundaries were finalized and just months after losing to Greuel, Cardenas announced that he would seek the 6th District seat now held by Councilwoman Ruth Galanter, who must relinquish the post under term limits.

A lifelong resident of the Valley, where he worked as a real estate agent before entering politics, Cardenas served much of the new district during his six years in the state Legislature.

During his three terms in Sacramento, he introduced a landmark crime-fighting bill that significantly increased spending for youth mentoring and after-school programs.

He also secured money for new parks, a Los Angeles children’s museum and senior center construction.

Facing the end of his allowed term last year, he considered running for state Senate, but opted for a local bid instead. Cardenas lost to Greuel by 242 votes after an expensive and often bitter campaign for the seat vacated in October 2001 when Joel Wachs quit after an unsuccessful run for mayor.

Greuel complained at the time that Cardenas was being controlled by special-interest groups, such as Native American tribes grateful for his Sacramento help in expanding tribal gaming. Even though Cardenas strongly disputes the allegation, it is a charge that is being repeated by Cardenas’ current opponent, Garcia.

“I represent the community and not special interest,” Garcia said in a recent interview. “Nobody owns me except the people.”

This is not Garcia’s first attempt at public office. In November, he ran for the 7th District seat on the proposed Valley City Council, which would have been created if the area’s attempt at secession had succeeded. He received more than 40% of the vote in a five-way race.

A 47-year-old flooring contractor, Garcia has lived in the Valley for more than 20 years. Two years ago, the Central City Assn. proclaimed Garcia “a treasure of Los Angeles” for his work in building the soccer league.

Despite his successes, however, Garcia has struggled to raise money for this campaign.

“This is just a grass-roots campaign because I don’t have a lot of money,” Garcia said. “We’re mostly focusing on Van Nuys, just going door to door.”

Garcia and Cardenas agree on one thing:

They both want to shut down the Bradley Landfill in Sun Valley. Waste Management Inc., the owner, has applied for permission from the state and the city to raise the maximum height of the dump from 1,000 feet above sea level to 1,010 feet.

Homeowner activists oppose the 10-foot expansion and a separate application to add an additional 43 feet to the allowable height, saying authorities should instead close the dump as an eyesore and a possible health hazard.

“We need to close it down and come up with other ways to deal with the trash issue,” Cardenas said.

He expressed hope that his experience in the Legislature would prove helpful in city government.

“I know what it means to work with people on a variety of issues and I’ve learned how to compromise,” Cardenas said. “I’m very well prepared to work with the 14 council members.... I’m excited for the Valley as a whole. We have an opportunity to launch ourselves into a new era. I’m excited to be part of that team.”