PAIR OF CITY HALL INSIDERS VYING FOR 3RD DISTRICT COUNCIL SEAT.Byline: Dominic Berbeo Staff Writer The City Council race to represent much of the west San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. pits two City Hall insiders with very different viewpoints and personalities against each other. Los Angeles Police Department "LAPD" and "L.A.P.D." redirect here. For other uses, see LAPD (disambiguation).  This article or section is written like an . Sgt. Dennis Zine, who also serves as a director in the police officers union, is making his second run for council in the last decade. In the April primary, he led the field in the 3rd District race, with 27 percent of the vote. Zine's opponent, Judith Hirshberg, is a former mayoral and council deputy who made it into the June 5 runoff by capturing nearly 22 percent of the primary votes, edging past four other candidates. They differ sharply on many issues - with Hirshberg adamantly opposed to secession and school district breakup and Zine open to both proposals - and their view of how well City Hall works - with Hirshberg generally positive and Zine highly critical. The 3rd District seat is being vacated by Councilwoman Laura Chick who was elected city controller in April. The district covers parts of the West Valley communities of Canoga Park, Encino, Northridge, Reseda, Van Nuys, Tarzana, West Hills, Winnetka and Woodland Hills. The two candidates have traded heated barbs barbs the primary, delicate filaments that are given off the shaft of a bird's contour feather. They project from the rachis and bear the barbules. in the runoff campaign, with Hirshberg claiming Zine, a member of the elected City Charter Commission, has been ineffective in solving the city's public safety crisis, and Zine firing back with accusations that she is out of touch with the community and desperate to increase her ranking in the polls. ``I know what's happening in the neighborhoods because that's where I've spent my last 33 years as a police officer,'' Zine said. ``Judith has not been out there. She's just running because there's an opportunity.'' Zine also ran unsuccessfully for the 3rd District council seat in 1993, losing to Chick in the runoff. In 1997, voters in the 3rd District elected him to the city's Elected Charter Reform Commission. He has served as a director on the Police Protective League for a decade, and served as a liaison for the union at City Hall. Zine - who promises to donate $25,000 a year of his salary to local groups - says he is committed to expanding after-school activities at every public high school campus in the city. Hirshberg has questioned Zine's accomplishments, saying in one mailer (1) An e-mail program. See e-mail program. (2) A message sent by an e-mail program. (3) A person or organization sending e-mail. that ``Dennis Zine is an L.A. cop. But he hasn't been doing much law enforcement lately.'' Hirshberg - who worked in the Community Development Department as an aide to former Mayor Tom Bradley Noun 1. Tom Bradley - United States politician who was elected the first black mayor of Los Angeles (1917-1998) Bradley, Thomas Bradley and as a deputy to former Councilman Marvin Braude Marvin Braude (August 11, 1920—December 7, 2005)served as Los Angeles City Councilman for the 11th district from 1965 to 1997. At various times Mr. Braude (pronounced BROW-dee) served as chair of the Finance and Revenue Committee, the Environmental Quality and Waste - said her major concerns are with providing everyday city services The examples and perspective in this article or section may represent an unduly geographically limited view of the subject. Please [ improve this article] or discuss the issue on the talk page. to the district. ``People basically want to get back in services what they paid their taxes for,'' she said. ``It's no wonder there is a feeling of neglect by City Hall.'' The two candidates were evenly matched in a well-funded primary race, and both are relatively close in fund-raising in the runoff with Zine's campaign also benefiting from an independent expenditure by the police union totaling more than $34,000 for mailers. On police reform, Zine said he would favor replacing LAPD 1. LAPD - Link Access Procedure on the D channel. 2. LAPD - Los Angeles Police Department. Chief Bernard C. Parks Bernard Parks (born December 7, 1943 in Beaumont, Texas) is a member of the Los Angeles City Council, representing the 8th District in South Los Angeles and former Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department. Parks attended Los Angeles City College, received his B.S. and focusing on revamping the disciplinary system so that officers would not feel chastised chas·tise tr.v. chas·tised, chas·tis·ing, chas·tis·es 1. To punish, as by beating. See Synonyms at punish. 2. To criticize severely; rebuke. 3. Archaic To purify. for minor offenses or false complaints. Hirshberg said the key to police reform lies in creating increased oversight through a strengthened Police Commission and a more independent inspector general. Both candidates say that while they are not advocating secession by the Valley, they would not actively fight it and would be guided by the voters' decision on Valley cityhood. Los Angeles City Council  The Los Angeles City Council is the governing body of the City of Los Angeles, California, United States. , 3rd District Judith Hirshberg Age: 67 Occupation: Former City Council aide Residence: Encino Web site: www.hirshbergforcitycouncil.com Money raised: $118,378 Dennis Zine Age: 53 Occupation: Police sergeant; police union director Residence: West Hills Web site: www.zineforcitycouncil.com Money raised: $66,140 CAPTION(S): 2 photos, box Photo: (1) Judith Hirshberg (2) Dennis Zine Box: Los Angeles City Council, 3rd District (See text) |
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