PANEL FINDS SANCHEZ DIG AT PADILLA UNSUPPORTABLE.

Byline: Yvette Cabrera Daily News Staff Writer

The first complaint filed to the League of Women Voter's newly created Campaign Watch Commission validated one of five charges lodged by City Council candidate Alex Padilla against his opponent, the League reported Thursday.

Padilla's complaint alleged that 7th District candidate Corinne Sanchez distributed a mailer that contained ``blatantly false'' claims about Padilla.

The two candidates will face each other in the June 8 runoff to fill the Northeast Valley seat vacated by state Sen. Richard Alarcon, D-Van Nuys.

After Sanchez submitted her defense of her mailer, the commission ruled that there was no material misrepresentation of fact with four of the claims but that Sanchez could not adequately support the fifth claim - that Padilla would welcome contributions from gambling interests and casinos.

Padilla described the commission's findings as fair, saying that they provided open and clear accountability in a political campaign.

``I'm glad the commission did its job,'' Padilla said. ``The bottom line for me is that the Northeast Valley deserves respect, and negative campaigning is disrespectful.

``When (Sanchez) skews or misrepresents my statements and policy positions, that is negative campaigning.''

A campaign consultant for Sanchez defended the mailer.

``This is fair play. We're just comparing the records of the two candidates and their statements, and we think we did accurately portray (Padilla's) statements about welcoming Indian gaming money,'' said Steve Gray-Barkan, campaign consultant for Sanchez.

He said Sanchez stands by her statements in the mailer and insisted the gambling statement is fair.

``It is a shame that such a frivolous and untruthful complaint would warrant an inquiry from your panel and a response from us,'' Gray-Barkan wrote in a letter addressed to the commission chairman.

Regardless of the commission's ruling, Sanchez's campaign had planned to deliver the mailing and had dropped off the mailers at the post office on Wednesday, Gray-Barkan said.

The other four complaints were in reference to statements in the mailer that claimed Padilla opposes Valley self-government, wants to build high-density apartments, is supported by downtown special interests and has only three years' work experience.

The commission was established just weeks ago on May 10 by the league to encourage a productive and positive electoral process. The commission is composed of lawyers, business leaders, nonprofit directors and former City Councilman Marvin Braude.

``We have seen more and more dollars go into negative campaigns, so we really wanted to discourage people from campaigning negatively and rather campaign on the issues and what (candidates) can do for their constituents and the community at large,'' said Joanne Baltierrez, executive director of the League of Women Voters in Los Angeles.