LAWMAKER BACKS TWO-THIRDS VOTE ON VALLEY SECESSION : VALLEY SECESSION: A THIRD PROPOSAL.

Byline: Rick Orlov Daily News Staff Writer

State Assemblyman Tony Cardenas said Monday that he supports bills granting the right to secede to the San Fernando Valley - but with a two-thirds majority requirement in the affected area to protect minority rights.

While emphasizing broad-based support for the Valley's right to political self-determination, Cardenas, D-Mission Hills, said he is concerned that his predominantly Latino constituency and other minority communities could be ignored with a simple majority vote for secession.

``When I look at the constituency in my district and look at the Valley as a whole, my district doesn't even come close to the number of voters that others have,'' Cardenas said.

``That means a simple majority could determine the future without considering my constituency,'' he said. ``This guarantees my constituency will be included in any grass-roots movement.''

Speaking to reporters outside Van Nuys City Hall, Cardenas noted that he has raised the issue with two other Valley Assemblymen, Robert Hertzberg, D-Sherman Oaks, and Tom McClintock, R-Granada Hills.

The three lawmakers are attempting to craft compromise legislation designed to win bipartisan support.

City Councilman Richard Alarcon joined Cardenas at the news conference and said he will introduce today a resolution putting the City Council on record as agreeing to surrender its veto power. Alarcon said he would prefer to see a simple majority vote for any secession effort.

A secession bill by former Assemblywoman Paula Boland, R-Granada Hills, died in the state Senate last year in part because of opposition from Southern California Latino legislators.

In new efforts, State Senate President Pro Tem Bill Lockyer, D-Hayward, and others have been looking for solutions to strip the City Council of its veto power over any secession drive, determine who should vote and ensure that minority rights aren't trampled in the process.

McClintock already has introduced AB 62, which would remove the council's veto power and allow for a simple majority vote within any area that wants to secede from the city.

A second measure, SB 176, by Lockyer, would allow secession, but only with a citywide vote and after two commissions study the matter.

``It is my hope that this (proposal) will be included in any final bill that is presented,'' Cardenas said, adding he will introduce it as a separate measure if needed.

Hertzberg said he would consider Cardenas' idea that a two-thirds majority should decide any Valley secession drive. Efforts to contact McClintock were unsuccessful.

``I understand the concerns raised by his suggestion,'' Hertzberg said. ``We will sit down, as we have been doing, and try to fashion a thoughtful, workable (compromise) on the secession issue.

``I'm happy he (Cardenas) is focusing attention on it,'' Hertzberg said.

Cardenas said he has until Feb. 28 to decide whether to introduce his proposal as a separate bill.

Jeff Brain, co-chairman of Valley VOTE, said he agreed with Cardenas' goals but was not sure about the two-thirds vote requirement.

``Valley VOTE has a meeting coming up, and we will look at it,' Brain said. ``I am glad to see him participating and getting actively involved in the discussion. I think whatever comes out will have parts of everyone's bill in it.''

Brain said the involvement of Latinos in the new effort is critical.

``The last time around, there was a lot of concerns in the Latino community about the council giving up its veto power,'' Brain said.

``This time, we're making a deliberate effort to include Latinos,'' he said. ``We met with (Cardenas) about two weeks ago and want to meet with other Latino leaders to explain it is their community that is getting even less services than they should. We want to see the council accountable to every community.''

For his part, Cardenas said the issue was one of self-determination more than whether the Valley should secede.

``If George Washington was here today, he wouldn't be asking England whether it should vote on setting the United States free,'' Cardenas said. ``To me, this is strictly a matter of self-determination and what is in the best interests of my district and my constituents.''

Cardenas said his district has fewer registered voters and lower voter turnout compared with neighboring districts.

``When political professionals come in, they will target an area where they can most effectively use their money,'' Cardenas said. ``My concern is to make sure that my constituency, which is not professional and more blue collar, has to be considered.

``One can draw the conclusion that because my district is heavily Latino, that is my concern.''

Two secession bills by State Assemblyman Tom McClintock and State Senate President Pro Tem Bill Lockyer are pending before the Legislature, but State Assemblyman Tony Cardenas staked out a new position Monday that could lead to a third bill.

The Cardenas proposal

Removes City Council veto power and requires two-thirds voter approval within any area that wants to secede from the city.

The McClintock bill (AB 62)

Removes the council's veto power and allows for a simple majority vote within any area that wants to secede from the city.

The Lockyer bill (SB 176)

Removes the council's veto power and allows secession but only with a citywide vote and after two commissions study the matter.

CAPTION(S):

Photo, Box

Photo: Richard Alarcon, left, and Tony Cardenas speak to the press.

Terri Thuente/Daily News

Box: VALLEY SECESSION: A third proposal (see text)