RICHMAN BACKS VALLEY BOROUGHS RUN FOR MAYOR BEGINS WITH VOW TO GIVE VISION.

Byline: Harrison Sheppard Staff Writer

NORTH HOLLYWOOD - Republican Assemblyman Keith Richman, the first candidate for mayor of a new San Fernando Valley city, said Wednesday that the new city should have a borough system to ensure that local neighborhoods have a strong voice in city government.

Richman, R-Granada Hills, officially declared his candidacy for Valley mayor, laying out a vision of a city that would have improved public safety and economic growth in an ``environment that helps our children to grow up happy, healthy and well educated.''

A borough system, he said, should be one of the first things that the new city's elected leadership should work on if voters approve a separate Valley city Nov. 5.

Richman, a medical doctor and business owner, said he will issue a detailed borough plan within a few weeks. He also criticized the timing of attempts by Los Angeles city officials to put a borough proposal on the Nov. 5 ballot at the same time as the secession election.

``It is too little, too late for the city of Los Angeles, but something that will be a very good thing for the San Fernando Valley,'' Richman said.

Richman said he supports the continuation of rent control in the new city, and thinks taxes can be reduced. He also said he wanted to implement a ``broad and aggressive program of community policing.''

``We will treat our police officers like heroes and not like suspects,'' he said.

Assemblyman Robert Hertzberg, D-Van Nuys, who has proposed a detailed borough plan for Los Angeles, said he will look at Richman's plan.

``I'll have to see the details of what he's endorsing,'' Hertzberg said in a statement. ``I'm not advocating secession. But if it's a plan that gives real authority for local control back to the neighborhoods, I'm for it.''

At Richman's press conference, about 10 opponents of the Ahmanson Ranch project held up signs asking Richman to oppose the development.

Richman said he supports the project but will meet with opponents to discuss their concerns on the environment and traffic. He said the project is an example of responsible development that preserves open space.

``We think he hasn't been given complete information,'' said Tsilah Burman, executive director of Rally to Save Ahmanson Ranch. ``He said he'll meet with us and we're looking forward to that.''

Sen. Richard Alarcon, D-Van Nuys, is also weighing a run for Valley mayor and expects to announce his decision within three weeks. He said he first has to decide whether he supports secession.

Several leading secessionists have said they favor a borough system for the new Valley city, including Valley Voters Organized Toward Empowerment Chairman Richard Close who said: ``I am 100 percent in support of the borough system, as articulated by Robert Hertzberg.''

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1) Assemblyman Keith Richman, left, talks with Jerry England, a candidate for a potential Valley council, after Richman launched his bid for Valley mayor.

(2) Marjorie Peterson of Northridge, left, shows her support for mayoral candidate Keith Richman with her daughter Cheryl Loucks and great- granddaughter Briana Womack, 10.

Charlotte Schmid-Maybach/Staff Photographer