3RD DISTRICT OUTCOME COULD BE WEEKS AWAY.

Byline: Harrison Sheppard Staff Writer

Voters and candidates might wait for days or weeks to learn who will be in a June runoff for the west San Fernando Valley's 3rd Council District seat, officials said Wednesday.

Although most races across the city were clearly determined on election night, the West Valley's City Council contest could remain in limbo for up to two weeks.

Dennis Zine, who led the field of six candidates, will be in the June 5 runoff against whoever finishes second - which won't be known until votes from a final precinct as well as absentee and provisional ballots are counted.

In the tight battle for second place, Judith Hirshberg was ahead of Francine Oschin by 164 votes based on the latest returns Wednesday. The last precinct could have up to 1,000 ballots, officials said.

The City Clerk's Office said it intends to release no more results until it finishes all counting and verifying, which could take two weeks, the maximum time allowed by law.

Citywide, there are about 22,700 absentee and provisional ballots remaining to be counted, as well as votes from 15 precincts. A precinct typically has about 1,000 registered voters.

In only one other council race could the uncounted ballots make a difference. In District 1, Ed Reyes just barely topped 50 percent, enough so far to avoid a runoff. But two precincts remain to be counted in the district.

Meanwhile, Oschin said she will cease campaigning as she anxiously awaits final results.

``We're just going to be in a holding pattern,'' Oschin said. ``And hopefully in another week or so we'll have some information.''

Hirshberg said she assumes she will be in the runoff, but acknowledges there is still some uncertainty.

``There's no guarantee in this life that I'm going to walk off with it,'' Hirshberg said. ``After the Bush (presidential vote-counting) debacle (in Florida), who can say anything?''

In the 5th District race for the council, former state Sen. Tom Hayden and former assistant U.S. attorney Jack Weiss prepared for what analysts said could be a bruising runoff campaign.

Hayden said he would emphasize his experience serving the district in the state Legislature and noted his opponent's inexperience in elected office.

``The City Council is not a place for on-the-job training,'' Hayden said in an e-mailed statement.

Weiss declined to attack Hayden, saying: ``We're going to have a healthy debate about the issues.''