BOXER COVERS VALLEY ISSUES, MAKES PITCH; BURBANK AIRPORT, RAIL TRANSIT, OZONE AMONG TOPICS DISCUSSED.

Byline: Eric Wahlgren Daily News Staff Writer

Sen. Barbara Boxer got an earful from more than 300 people Saturday at a town hall meeting on everything from Burbank Airport expansion to global warming and Valley rail transportation.

Standing on her ``Boxer box'' to boost her height an inch or two, the senator told the crowd at Walter Reed Middle School that she did not expect agreement on all the issues but just a healthy amount of trust.

``Trust me to do what is right for the state,'' said Boxer, who was greeted by a standing ovation and in general appeared at ease with the free-flowing format.

Many in the crowd called themselves Boxer supporters, applauding when she outlined plans to expand educational programs and toughen current environmental regulations to better meet the needs of children.

``We should dedicate the first decade of the next century to our children,'' she said.

Area Democratic politicians turned out in force for the event, including U.S. Rep. Brad Sherman, D-Woodland Hills; Los Angeles City Councilman Mike Feuer; and state Assemblymen Bob Hertzberg, D-Van Nuys, and Tony Cardenas, D-Panorama City.

Uncharacteristic of these types of town hall meetings, there were no hecklers, unless you count the woman who stomped out of the hall calling Boxer ``a jerk'' without specifying why she was upset.

In general, the crowd seemed to like what it heard.

Yes, Boxer told Helen Harrison, a 39-year-old film producer from Studio City, she will continue to badger her Senate colleagues on the need to cut emissions destroying the Earth's protective ozone layer.

Yes, the senator said to Dennis Dreith, 48-year-old president of the Recording Musicians Association, she will take the side of the artists in the development of new copyright laws.

And yes, she told attorney Bob Corbin, a 51-year-old Studio City resident, she plans to do what she can to get the Federal Aviation Administration more involved in discussions on the Burbank Airport expansion.

``It's common sense, and it's decency,'' Boxer said.

But outside the hall, Los Angeles resident Michele Grumet took issue with Boxer's response to a question about the proposed East-West San Fernando Valley rail line.

The senator told the audience there is no unity on the issue, saying her office will continue to listen to the debate on rail plans before taking a position on increased federal funding for the project.

``I think her answer was a cop-out,'' said Grumet, who believes there is strong, unified opposition to the costly expansion.

During the meeting, Boxer presented Excellence in Education Awards to longtime Studio City school volunteer Wayne Scheppele, 81, and to the Los Angeles Philharmonic, which has sponsored music programs at Walter Reed Middle School.

The senator ended her more than one-hour chat session in Studio City - a site she chose because of the mail and calls her office gets from the community - with a campaign pitch.

``I am going to try to stay your senator another time around,'' she said.

U.S. Rep. Sonny Bono, R-Palm Springs, has already hinted that he may challenge Boxer in her bid for re-election.

``I think this is going to be a very hard race, whoever is in it,'' said Boxer, who got her political start serving on the Marin County Board of Supervisors before being elected to Congress.