DEFINING THEMSELVES IS HOPEFULS' FIRST TASK.

Byline: Beth Barrett Staff Writer

In the small, tightly knit communities of the Northeast Valley, the paths of Cindy Montanez and Yolanda Fuentes have frequently crossed.

Montanez grew up in the city of San Fernando, while Fuentes was raised in nearby Pacoima. They attend the same Catholic parish and have worked on many of the same political campaigns.

With so much history in common and with both saying they respect the other, the candidates - both 27 - face the task of defining the differences between them.

Montanez is stressing her political background as an elected public official.

Fuentes talks of her legislative and community experience working as district director for Assemblyman Tony Cardenas, the public official she's seeking to replace as Cardenas campaigns for the Los Angeles City Council.

Montanez and Fuentes both became enamored with politics during the 1990s as political and social activism was on the rise in the Northeast Valley.

Both women said they felt called to public service from a young age, and were supported by strong families who emphasized discipline, education and a good work ethic.

Montanez says she remembers being rousted from bed at 5:30 a.m. to go jogging to keep in shape for a high school swimming and volleyball career.

``You get up, work for your family, make the community better,'' Montanez said. ``You try to lead a healthy, happy life full of integrity.''

Fuentes said she learned a valuable lesson in leadership from her San Fernando Valley High School band instructor who didn't believe drum majors had to be young men and encouraged Fuentes to take the band's helm, which resulted in an all-city band drill championship her senior year.

``He always stressed how you have to give back to your community,'' Fuentes said.

With college educations - Montanez went to University of California, Los Angeles, and Fuentes to California State University, Northridge - neither felt their gender was an obstacle to their political ambitions, they said.

With limited track records and unlimited hopes for the district, both women said they will avoid nasty political maneuvering in favor of serving the community and constructively solving problems.

Montanez talks about rejuvenating the city of San Fernando with refurbished Victorian homes, a performing arts center and renovations to its historic districts. Education and health would be among her top priorities.

Fuentes said education would continue at the top of her list of legislative priorities.

``It won't get nasty on my part,'' Fuentes said of the upcoming campaign.

Montanez said she has ``no difficulty'' with Fuentes, having worked with her in the past on political campaigns.

A turning point in Fuentes' life came last August when she was carjacked in the city of San Fernando, only escaping by jumping out of her moving car as the assailant drove off with it.

Fuentes fought with her assailant before escaping, suffering bruises and cuts.

``I prayed for strength,'' Fuentes said. ``This is my community, and we should not have to fear. I fought with all my might.''

A few days later Montanez called a press conference during which safety tips were provided to the public, along with information on self-defense.

``It was out there, everyone knew about it. I didn't want that to happen to anyone else,'' Montanez said.

Fuentes, who said she didn't get a personal call from Montanez, said, ``If it's something she felt she had to do, then by all means. I'm thankful to have my life.''

Fuentes said she responded to the attack by helping organize a self- defense class at a local high school where some 200 women learned ``to throw men down.''

For the community, having two young women hoping to overturn history in the district is a measure of how far the politics in the Northeast Valley have come.

Irene Tovar, chief executive officer for the Latin American Civic Association who has run for various offices unsuccessfully, welcomes the chance to elect a woman to represent the area in Sacramento.

``They're two wonderful people,'' she said. ``It's putting us in a very difficult position in making a choice between the two.''