VALLEY TO GAIN SEAT IN HOUSE? DISTRICT SHIFT RILES SHERMAN.

Byline: Rick Orlov Staff Writer

Legislative plans for new congressional district boundaries would give the San Fernando Valley two full seats instead of one, but Rep. Brad Sherman vowed Friday to fight the proposal.

Sherman, D-Woodland Hills, now represents a district that includes part of the West Valley and stretches to Thousand Oaks and Malibu, but he would lose 60 percent of his area under the Democratic legislative plan. His new 24th District would go from the Southwest Valley to the Northeast Valley and have a slight majority of Latino residents.

Rep. Howard Berman, D-Mission Hills, whose brother, consultant Michael Berman, was the chief architect of the remapping, would give up much of the Northeast Valley and a large number of Latinos, giving him an all-Valley district without a racial majority.

``This is pure politics,'' said Sherman, who flew up to Sacramento on Friday to lobby his cause.

``These lines were drawn by Michael Berman. I know he's working for all 32 members of (California's Democratic congressional delegation). But it would be unnatural if he didn't notice one of the 32 was his brother. I think Michael brings considerable skill and knowledge to this process.''

Efforts to contact Michael Berman were unsuccessful.

Rep. Berman said he saw no problems with Sherman's new district.

``(Sherman) knows that we go through this every 10 years,'' Berman said. ``Change is part of the process.''

Sherman's district would move north to include San Fernando, Pacoima, Panorama City, Mission Hills and Sun Valley. He would lose Thousand Oaks, Malibu, Agoura and Calabasas.

The proposed district is heavily Democratic by a 54-27 percent margin with 27 percent Latino registered voters and a 46 percent Latino voting-age population - making it a likely target for Latino candidates in future elections.

``I'm not worried about that,'' Sherman said. ``I have always done well among the Latino voters in my district.''

Two leading Latino officials, state Sen. Richard Alarcon, D-Van Nuys, and Assemblyman Tony Cardenas, D-Mission Hills, said they have no plans to challenge Sherman in 2002.

``I am running for re-election to my Senate seat,'' Alarcon said. ``I think Brad Sherman and Howard Berman have done a good job.''

Cardenas said he is focused on a Dec. 11 special election for City Councilman Joel Wach's seat.

The redistricting plan, as well as similar proposals released earlier for state Senate and Assembly districts, will be the subject of public hearings next week and considered by the Legislature by Sept. 14, the last day to pass bills this year.

By law, the Legislature is required to draw up new state and federal districts every 10 years based on the U.S. Census.

Under the plan, Berman's 26th District shifts east to include parts of Burbank and south to Sherman Oaks, Studio City, Universal City and Cahuenga Pass.

Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Los Angeles, would give up those areas of the Southeast Valley but pick up some of Sherman's turf including parts of the West Valley, Calabasas, Agoura Hills, Westlake Village and Malibu, while retaining Beverly Hills, Bel-Air, West Hollywood and Santa Monica.

``I think it's a fine district,'' Waxman said. ``I think a lot of the people I will be representing are those who I've represented in the past, but have moved out.''

Berman said he was pleased to see a consolidation of representation for the Valley - with two congressional districts entirely within the Valley.

``We have two people who represent all of the Valley and will be able to make the case in Washington for the needs here. We also have some folks with a portion of the Valley and they understand our issues.''

Rep. Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon, R-Santa Clarita, would lose much of his North Valley but gain parts of San Bernardino, Inyo and Mono counties to the Nevada border for his 25th District.

Richard Close, president of the Sherman Oaks Homeowners Association and chairman of the Valley VOTE secession group, praised the plan.

``This is what we asked for,'' Close said. ``Berman and Sherman are people who are focused on getting things done in the Valley, whether it is money for projects or legislation that benefits the San Fernando Valley. We couldn't have two better people to take care of the Valley.''

Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Pasadena, would lose the western portion of Burbank from his 27th District but still represent eastern Burbank, Glendale, Pasadena and nearby cities.

CAPTION(S):

2 maps

Map:

(1) PROPOSED NEW STATE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS

(2) CURRENT CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS