Picus to Run for Congress’ New 24th Seat, Unless Beilenson Does

Joy Picus on Wednesday became the second member of the Los Angeles City Council to announce plans to run for Congress in the proposed new 24th District, which would stretch from the southwest San Fernando Valley to Thousand Oaks.

But as did City Councilman Zev Yaroslavsky, Picus said she would drop out of the race if Rep. Anthony C. Beilenson (D-Los Angeles) seeks the seat rather than run in a new Westside district.

“The only thing that will keep me from running is Tony,” Picus said. “I plan to push forward full-speed until I hear from him.”

Beilenson faces a difficult decision because the Westside district is more favorably drawn for Democrats, but a race there would pit him against a powerful fellow incumbent, Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-Los Angeles).

Picus clearly is hoping that Beilenson stays on the other side of the Santa Monica Mountains.

She said she spent Tuesday night mapping out the 24th District--which is part of a redistricting package proposed to the state Supreme Court by a panel of special masters--and concluded that “it looks like it has my name written on it. . . . I couldn’t have drawn it better myself.”

Picus’ West Valley council district falls entirely within the boundaries of the proposed congressional district and includes about 40% of its population.

“I couldn’t believe it when I looked at it,” she said. “I feel galvanized, rejuvenated, ready to go. It just blows my mind.”

Voter registration in the 24th District, which would extend west to Malibu, is almost evenly divided among the two major parties.

But that tends to favor Republicans because many Californians register as Democrats and vote Republican or don’t vote at all.

The district also drew immediate interest from three conservative Republicans, including former Rep. Bobbi Fiedler of Northridge, who lost her seat when she unsuccessfully ran for the U. S. Senate in 1986.

Others expressing interest are Assemblyman Tom McClintock of Thousand Oaks and Calabasas businessman Sang Korman, who has lost two bids for a congressional seat that covers much of the same area.

“It’s a race that is hard for a Democrat to win, but not impossible,” Picus said. “It’s a toss-up district.”

Yaroslavsky had little to say about Picus’ announcement that they may be rivals for the seat, but suggested that fund-raising ability would be essential to the race.

“I think it will be an expensive campaign, no question,” he said, adding that he has already formed a campaign committee.

Picus said she has just started making calls to form such a committee, but indicated that she is ready to take on Yaroslavsky in a Democratic primary.

While Yaroslavsky is “an effective politician,” she said, “he’s not a Valley person. This is a Valley district. I can’t believe people who live in the Valley would want a non-Valley person.”

In contrast with the more liberal Westside communities that make up the proposed 29th District, she said, it will take a “more moderate Democrat,” such as herself, to succeed in the 24th District.