CARDENAS ENDORSES HERTZBERG; STRUGGLE FOR STATE ASSEMBLY SPEAKERSHIP AT AN END.

Byline: Terri Hardy Sacramento Bureau

A political battle between two San Fernando Valley lawmakers who want to be Speaker of the state Assembly came to a public end Monday when Tony Cardenas endorsed rival Bob Hertzberg for the top leadership post.

Hertzberg, D-Van Nuys, was regarded as heir apparent but Cardenas, with backing from many in the Latino caucus, had planned to challenge him.

But on Monday, Cardenas, D-Panorama City, said he and his allies decided after a series of meetings with Hertzberg to back down.

``We felt comfortable with Bob and in the interest of a good, strong transition for the Democrats we concluded we should support Bob,'' he said.

Several political observers said Cardenas had little support among fellow Democrats.

``He had his vote and his mother's - that's it,'' said one.

In a statement, Hertzberg said he was pleased by the endorsement and ``honored to enjoy the confidence of a united caucus.''

But several lawmakers and consultants, who did not want to be identified, said Cardenas was at the meetings because he wanted to ensure that there would be no retribution for his previous public grasp at the speakership.

``There's a lot of things that can be done to someone to punish them - they won't move their bills, they won't approve their budget requests, they won't be put on a major committee - and worst of all, they don't give you a nice office,'' one consultant said.

Cardenas said he was concerned about retribution - but for his allies, not for himself.

``Unfortunately, some people were getting stressed and acting out of hand, not Bob or myself, but the rumor mill was saying `let's punish so and so,' '' Cardenas said. ``I was never worried about myself, but people who supported me and had some vulnerable areas didn't deserve to go through that.''

Sources said that Cardenas is not likely to gain any political clout but the assemblyman stressed that he would have new responsibilities.

``Bob recognizes my contributions as a leader in the state Assembly and has asked me to accept a greater leadership role,'' he said.

On Nov. 23, Assembly Speaker Antonio Villaraigosa, D-Los Angeles, announced that he will resign the leadership position in April to run for mayor of Los Angeles and that Hertzberg was his hand-picked replacement.

The Assembly's Democrats, who hold a majority of seats, will officially cast their votes for speaker on Jan. 24 and the winner will take over in April.