MAYOR RIVALS LOCK UP BACKERS VILLARAIGOSA GAINS VALLEY SUPPORT; ANTONOVICH FOR HAHN.

Byline: Rick Orlov Staff Writer

VAN NUYS - Mayoral contender Antonio Villaraigosa won the support Wednesday of several San Fernando Valley community leaders while incumbent James Hahn picked up the endorsement of Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich.

Standing in the courtyard of the Marvin Braude Constituent Service Center in Van Nuys, Villaraigosa was endorsed by Richard Close of the Sherman Oaks Homeowners Association, Gordon Murley of the Woodland Hills Homeowners Organization and Polly Ward of the Studio City Residents Association.

Close said he and many of the others had support former Assembly Speaker Bob Hertzberg for mayor and had backed Hahn in his 2001 election.

``After four years of Jim Hahn as mayor, we haven't seen him fulfill his promises,'' Close said. ``He promised to do something about traffic. He promised to do something about overdevelopment. He did nothing.

``We want a mayor who will be more energetic and who will be there with us. I have worked with Antonio Villaraigosa for 10 years and he has never gone back on a promise.''

Villaraigosa said the endorsements were important in serving to help validate his candidacy to Valley voters - considered a key constituency in the runoff.

``I think these people know they can trust me,'' Villaraigosa said. ``I will be out here. I will be accessible.''

Villaraigosa also won endorsements from members of the Oscar Joel Bryant Association of minority Los Angeles police officers.

Additionally, he was backed by Bill Power of the United Chambers of Commerce of the Valley, Wayne Williams of the Sherman Oaks Homeowners Association, Bill Jasper of the Encino Property Owners Association and Benny Bernal, who ran for mayor of the proposed Valley city during the 2002 secession election.

His campaign also listed former Councilman Marvin Braude as an supporter, but he was not at the event.

At an event at the county Hall of Administration, Antonovich said he decided to support Hahn because of the mayor's efforts stop the state from taking local property taxes and his support for local law enforcement.

The supervisor also said he and Hahn have agreed to discuss changes to the modernization plan for Los Angeles International Airport. The county has sued to block the $11 billion project, but Antonovich said Hahn has agreed to discuss ways to use other airports in the region.

``We have agreed to discuss all these issues to find a way to come to an understanding and promote regionalization,'' Hahn said.

The Hahn campaign also received a boost with a decision by the United Firefighters of Los Angeles City to spend up to $300,000 in the election to pay for an independent expenditure on his behalf and that of City Council candidate Bill Rosendahl.

The union is headed by Pat McOsker, who is the brother of Hahn chief of staff Tim McOsker. The union spent $150,000 in the primary election.

In the endorsement competition, Villaraigosa has picked up a number of former supporters of the mayor, including Supervisor Yvonne Brathwaite Burke and Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Los Angeles, two influential African-American leaders who are expected to help the councilman in an area of the city with strong ties to Hahn.

Councilman Bernard Parks, the former police chief who finished fourth in the election, is expected to announce this week who he will endorse. He has been said to be leaning toward Villaraigosa.

Democratic political consultant Richard Lichtenstein said the endorsements are taking on a more important role in this election than would normally be the case.

``In elections where you have two well-known candidates, endorsements don't mean much usually,'' Lichtenstein said. ``But in this race, it serves as a validation as they are attempting to expand their base.

``Antonovich, even though his district is mostly outside the city of Los Angeles, sends a message to Republican voters that it's OK to vote for Hahn. The homeowner groups giving their stamp of approval to Villaraigosa says he is in tune with their concerns.''

Rick Orlov, [phone]

rick.orlov(at)dailynews.com