OFFICE SEEKERS MAKING ROUNDS IN SIMI VALLEY; ELECTION CAMPAIGNS UNDER WAY.

Byline: Lisa Mascaro Daily News Staff Writer

Simi Valley City Councilwoman Sandi Webb started her re-election campaign ready to fend off challenger Eileen Cohen, a local businesswoman supported by another councilwoman.

Now she's keeping an eye on 31-year-old newcomer Glen Becerra, who is winning endorsements across the city.

And she's hoping, she said, the two of them will split the vote and leave her in office.

``I keep hearing from people, as far as they know, I have no real problems,'' said Webb, the council's lone Libertarian who is seeking re-election. ``It usually is, the more the merrier for the incumbent.''

The November election season is just getting under way in Simi Valley, as posters go up on the freeway off-ramps and candidates pressed the flesh this weekend at the local Simi Valley Days fair.

The mayor's race is shaping up between popular Councilman Bill Davis and populist-style challenger H. Larry Fick, who said he's running to make sure Davis doesn't sail into office and is willing to put up $10,000 of his own money to make his point.

But the fireworks are lining up around the council contest, where two incumbents, Webb and Councilman Paul Miller, and four challengers are running for two four-year seats.

Newcomer Becerra is collecting endorsements across town, from the local police officers' union to a local conservative Republican group, breathing life into a campaign many saw initially as a trial run or stepping stone to an appointment: If Davis wins the mayor's race, there would be a special election or appointment to fill the remaining two years of his council term.

``I'm not running for an appointment; I'm running to win a seat,'' said Becerra, who is holding a poolside fund-raiser Sunday at the home of Congressman Elton Gallegly, R-Oxnard, a supporter. ``I would like to be part of a team that would be making that appointment.''

Cohen was supported early on by Councilwoman Barbara Williamson, who is not up for re-election, in a race that initially positioned her as a contender to Webb. She has since held a fund-raiser with supporters at her home and planned to meet residents at Simi Valley Days. Mostly, she said, she has been meeting residents - about 3,000 she estimates - and passing out refrigerator magnets and sharing her views.

On Friday, the Simi Valley Police Officers' Association announced its endorsements, which, though no guarantee of victory, carry weight in a town where many residents support their local police department.

Candidates supported by the POA benefit from the union's financial resources and army of about 100 members who could volunteer with the campaign, said POA President Sgt. Fred James.

The POA is supporting Davis for mayor and Miller and Becerra for council, James said.

Also Friday, the Simi Valley-Moorpark Republican Assembly, the local branch of the conservative California Republican Assembly, announced its endorsements, which echoed the POA list of Miller and Becerra for council and Davis for mayor.

Also running as newcomers are Robert Hacker and retired Simi Valley police officer Dave Weiner.

Webb, who was endorsed by the POA during her last election, was overlooked by the group this time.

``The election committee just didn't feel she was probably as strong on the issues,'' which include ensuring that police pay and benefits reflect the city's ranking as one of the nation's safest large cities, said James.

Still, incumbents also carry a lot of weight in local elections, where residents remember the council person who made sure a stop sign was put up or who resolved a local water problem, said Webb.

``Anyone running against Paul and Sandi is going to have a tough time,'' said Davis, who nearly supported newcomer Becerra. ``If anyone knew what the people of Simi Valley want, it would be Glen Becerra. He's lived here all his life.''

But even with that near-endorsement, Becerra, along with the other challengers, knows that being an outsider looking in is always more difficult than defending your council seat.

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PHOTO (Color) Campaign signs for the November elections are going up.

Michael Owen Baker/Daily News