SCHIFF A SHIFT TO DEMOCRATS VICTOR CREDITS NEW MAJORITY; ROGAN CITES IMPEACHMENT.

Byline: Jennifer Hamm Staff Writer

By defeating Rep. James Rogan, Adam Schiff has set the stage to become the first Democrat in more than four decades to represent the congressional district that includes Glendale, Burbank and Pasadena.

Schiff, a state senator from Burbank, beat the Republican incumbent Tuesday with 53 percent of the vote in the nation's costliest congressional race.

``I think on too many issues, (Rogan) was at odds with the people of this district,'' Schiff said Wednesday.

Rogan finished the election with 44 percent of the votes, according to complete but unofficial returns, trailed by Miriam Hospodar of the Natural Law Party and Libertarian Ted Brown with 2 percent each.

While Schiff contended that he won because voters like his emphasis on bipartisan legislating, Rogan attributed his loss to his role in President Clinton's 1999 impeachment trial.

As a House impeachment manager, Rogan was thrust into the national spotlight and became a prime target for Democrats eager to oust him as part of their effort to take control of the House by winning a majority of the 435 seats nationwide.

With Democratic voters increasingly outnumbering Republicans in the 27th Congressional District, changing demographics made it easier to wrest the seat from Rogan, who was first elected to Congress in 1996.

Before Rogan, the district was represented by Republican Carlos Moorhead, who was first elected in 1972. Before that, it was Republican H. Allen Smith, first elected in 1956.

Though Rogan has always had a plurality of Democrats in the district, he said Wednesday that impeachment made the battle even more difficult.

``We were never really able to overcome that,'' Rogan said. ``I think impeachment had the most to do with it.''

More than $10 million was raised by the two campaigns, with additional outlays by independent groups such as pharmaceutical corporations and organized labor. The money made for long months of fierce campaigning, largely through commercials and mail pieces.

``I think the outcome of this race would have been the same if $10 were spent rather than $10 million,'' Schiff said.

The congressman-elect also said during a press conference Wednesday in Pasadena that he will make campaign finance reform a priority when he arrives on Capitol Hill, paying particular attention to controlling ``soft- money'' contributions and spending.

His other priorities include improving public education and aiding the ailing Social Security system, he said.

Rogan said he has not decided his next career move. After 16 years as a prosecutor, judge, Assembly member and member of Congress, he might take a job in the private sector, he said.

There is some local speculation that Rogan will again seek political office, possibly a statewide position.

The Republican congressman was upbeat Wednesday about losing and his future. Clad in jeans and a blue wool sweater, the gregarious Rogan cracked jokes during a press conference in Glendale: ``Maybe if they would have had a candidate with a better haircut, I would have won.''

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Photo:

Visiting from Florida, Sherry Schiff congratulates her son, Adam, on his election to the House of Representatives.

Andy Holzman/Staff Photographer