UPSTART NEW CHALLENGER BEGINS DRIVE AGAINST ZINE.

Byline: Rick Orlov Staff Writer

For Jeff Bornstein, it was frustration at what he saw as broken promises and increased traffic that drove him to launch an uphill campaign against Councilman Dennis Zine in the March 8 election.

With little public name recognition and a limited background in local politics, the 44-year-old owner of an electronics shop is bringing a passion to the race that has gotten under the skin of Zine, who is seeking election to his second term representing the West San Fernando Valley.

``What got to me was the building of 2,500 apartments near De Soto (Avenue) and Victory (Boulevard) across from Pierce College,'' Bornstein said. ``When he ran for office in 2001, he promised not to add any developments that would impact on traffic. Yet, all we see is more and more traffic.''

Zine contends there was nothing he could do to stop the project - but that he has taken steps to limit its size in the future.

``This is an area that was covered by the Warner Center specific plan,'' Zine said. ``If we didn't allow it, we would have been sued. What we did do was put in an interim control ordinance to reduce its impact in the future.''

Zine, who has avoided serious controversies, has raised more than $271,000 for the campaign - compared with the $3,900 Bornstein has collected.

And Zine has made a point of being highly visible within his district at community meetings and neighborhood councils.

Bornstein, a native of the Valley, said he believes Zine is not in touch with the 3rd District and its needs and has been too close to the Los Angeles Police Department to look at it objectively.

``We need an independent look at the LAPD,'' Bornstein said. ``One thing I would like to see is some way to increase the education requirements so every officer has at least a (two-year) degree. It provides more experience for the officers, who will be better able to deal with different people they meet.''

Zine said he has been independent and active in the district.

``For each of the last four years, I have given $25,000 of my salary to charities in my district,'' Zine said. ``I go to all the meetings I can in the district and look what we've accomplished. Crime is down. Business has improved in all areas, from Fallbrook Center to Reseda and Canoga Park.''

Zine said he also has fought on behalf of residents and those in his district on a variety of fronts, including his opposition a week ago to the proposal from Mayor James Hahn to get a half-percent sales-tax measure before voters to hire more police officers and firefighters.

But he has also worked closely with the mayor to support the $11 billion modernization plan for Los Angeles International Airport as well as with his colleagues on the council. Although he is a registered Republican, Zine jokes he considers himself a ``Republicrat'' with conservative fiscal policies and a more liberal social policy.

Zine, who chairs the City Council's Personnel Committee, has championed efforts to help police officers.

He worked in the LAPD for 33 years and is a reserve officer on the force, even though he scaled back his assignment from patrolling his district to working auto burglary.

That came about because of liability concerns after an incident when he and Councilman Greig Smith were involved in the arrest of a burglary suspect.

Rick Orlov, [phone]

rick.orlov(at)dailynews.com

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2 photos

Photo:

(1) BORNSTEIN

(2) ZINE