CONGRESS: LOCAL DELEGATION ON WAY TO RE-ELECTION.

Byline: Susan Abram Staff Writer

Southern California's congressional delegation headed Tuesday toward easy re-election victories over little-known newcomers in newly reapportioned districts designed to protect incumbents.

In his bid for a ninth term, Republican Elton Gallegly was holding a strong lead over Democratic challenger Fern Rudin to represent the 24th Congressional District, encompassing most of Ventura and inland Santa Barbara counties.

In the huge new 25th District, which stretches from Sunland-Tujunga to Mono County and the Nevada border, GOP incumbent Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon was handily winning his sixth term over Democrat Bob Conaway, a Barstow attorney.

Rep. Brad Sherman, a Sherman Oaks Democrat, was headed for re-election to his fourth term with a strong lead over Republican Robert M. Levy, a West Hills attorney making his first run for elective office in the 27th District, which sweeps from Tarzana, Northridge and Granada Hills to Sylmar, looping north of San Fernando and into Sunland, Burbank and North Hollywood.

Ten-term Republican incumbent Howard Berman was holding firm against GOP newcomer David R. Hernandez Jr. of North Hollywood to represent the heavily Republican 28th District, which includes neighborhoods in the Central and Northeast Valley.

Pasadena Democrat Adam Schiff held off a challenge by Republican Jim Scileppi in his bid for a second term representing the 29th District, which includes the Burbank and Glendale areas.

Los Angeles Democrat Henry Waxman, a 14-term incumbent and the most senior member of Southern California's House delegation, held a healthy lead over Republican Tony Goss in a race for the 30th District, which stretches from Hollywood to Westlake Village and from Chatsworth to Santa Monica.