MAPS SHOW VALLEY CITY LATINOS MAJORITY IN MOST DISTRICTS.

Byline: Harrison Sheppard Staff Writer

Latinos would form the largest ethnic group in nine of 14 city council districts proposed in the San Fernando Valley if it breaks away from Los Angeles, according to a report issued Wednesday.

The county agency overseeing the cityhood study released the preliminary maps detailing the boundaries of Valley districts, each with less than half as many people as Los Angeles City Council members represent.

``It appears they created (at least) five Hispanic districts,'' said Bob Scott, a Valley attorney who handles demographic issues for the Valley secession movement. ``That doesn't assure that a Latino would be elected but it clearly gives the opportunity for that to take place, which is something a lot of people have been urging for a long time.''

Based on the report, a new Valley city could have between five and nine districts that could elect a Latino member - potentially giving it a higher Latino makeup than the Los Angeles City Council, which has four Latino members.

But there will be no districts with high African-American populations because that group represents less than 5 percent of the whole Valley population and is dispersed throughout the area, according to the report released by the Local Agency Formation Commission.

Asians would make up as much as 16 percent of the population in two Valley districts.

Latino support is seen as key to the Valley secession movement because without it, critics are expected to deride the effort as a form of ``white flight'' away from Los Angeles even though Latinos make up 42 percent of the Valley population and slightly outnumber the white non-Hispanic population, according to the 2000 U.S. Census.

Some Latino leaders remained skeptical and didn't believe a new Valley city would increase representation for their community. They said they intend to scrutinize the data and might go to court if they feel the voting rights of Latinos are violated.

``What we're looking for is a map that will stand legal scrutiny, that will protect the voting rights of all people,'' said Xavier Flores, vice president of the Valley chapter of the Mexican American Political Association. ``Not just Latinos, but all people - but certainly Latinos included.

``If it does do it and we're satisfied, they'll get no opposition from us. If we feel that it does not protect the rights, or violates our voting rights, they can expect a legal challenge without a doubt.''

Assemblyman Tony Cardenas, D-Mission Hills, who is running for the Los Angeles City Council in the Dec. 11 special election in the 2nd District, would give Latinos a fifth Los Angeles seat under the current system.

Secession supporters hope the release of the maps will trigger a flood of candidates. So far, no one has publicly declared an interest in seeking an elected position with the new city.

Plans call for the Valley city to have a mayor elected citywide to preside over council meetings and vote along with the 14 council members.

``We believe that when people see the new council district maps, they will be able to decide that they're going to run for a city council (seat) in their district,'' said Richard Close, chairman of Valley Voters Organized Toward Empowerment. ``This is the first opportunity that the public will have really to see how local government will be in the new city.''

The proposed districts average 96,751 people each. Los Angeles council districts average more than 240,000. Secessionists argue that smaller districts will make constituents feel closer to representatives and create a more accessible and responsive government.

Opponents argue that Los Angeles is able to provide adequate representation with districts at their current size.

Councilman Nate Holden, a member of the council's secession committee, noted that as the population of the districts grew, each member expanded his or her staff to work with constituents.

`'As the population grew and the need grew, they took more responsibility away from the bureaucracy and gave it to the elected officials,'' Holden said.

The Valley city maps have five districts that are majority Latino and two others whose Latino voting-age population outnumbers that of any other group, including whites. An additional two districts have Latino populations - but not voting-age numbers - that outnumber whites.

The information released Wednesday was a preliminary 11-page report with two maps. More maps and information, including elaboration on the ethnic and racial breakdowns, are scheduled for release next week.

Los Angeles-based consultant PDQ GeoDemographics performed the study, with legal advice from professor William Clark of the UCLA Geography Department.

LAFCO plans to mail out the maps and reports to dozens of community groups next week and then will hold two public hearings on the proposed new districts - at 9 a.m. Dec. 8 at California State University, Northridge, and 6:30 p.m. Dec. 12 at Valley College.

Secessionists hope the release of the maps will persuade candidates to step forward. A cityhood election, including election of a mayor and council members, is proposed as early as November 2002.

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NEW VALLEY CITY COUNCIL DISTRICTS