CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATES IN TIGHT CONTEST FOR VACANCY.

Byline: Eric Wahlgren Daily News Staff Writer

The election to fill a vacant City Council seat remained a cliff-hanger late Tuesday with film producer Anthony Portantino, 37, neck-in-neck with book publisher Deborah Orlik, 44.

Although all the ballots cast at polling booths had been counted with a voter turnout of more than 30 percent, officials said the final outcome would not be determined until today when signatures on about 75 mail-in ballots could be verified.

``I'd rather be tied for first than second,'' said Portantino. ``For the moment, it feels great.''

Portantino and Orlik led two other candidates vying for a seat that came open when City Councilman Jack Hastings died in September. The other candidates were were community activist Laura Olhasso, 45, and retired Los Angeles city Fire Department chief Donald Manning, 66.

The winner will serve a four-year term.

In this tony city of 20,000 where the median household income is $78,965, the campaign had centered mainly on issues relating to limiting growth and preserving the high quality of life.

Portantino, who runs a business making family films, had billed himself as a businessman candidate who favored pragmatic solutions to city problems.

Portantino's voters who cast their ballots at La Canada Elementary School said he worked the hardest walking precincts and appeared to care the most about children's issues.

``He was the only one who was concerned enough to ring my doorbell and meet me,'' said Debbie Pincar, a psychologist.

Orlik, who represented families in a legal battle to allow La Canada Flintridge children who attend Glendale schools to transfer to schools in their own city, had campaigned as a tough problem-solver with fresh ideas.

Some voters who went to the polls at La Canada Elementary School said they believed Orlik would be the best person in place to keep a lid on growth.

``She's in favor of keeping the city plan,'' said Evelyn Quinn, a self-employed restoration artist. ``She is not in favor of the namsionization of La Canada.

With only the 75 absentee ballots remaining, Manning was third and Olhasso was fourth, according to the City Clerk's Office.