WILL COUNCIL FILL VACANCY? CHICK BACKS GOLDBERG AIDE AS TEMPORARY FIX.

Byline: Rick Orlov Staff Writer

A Los Angeles official joined with Hollywood-area citizens groups Wednesday to ask the City Council to fill the vacancy created by the election of Jackie Goldberg to the state Assembly.

Councilwoman Laura Chick proposed naming Goldberg's former chief deputy, Sharon Delugach, to the post after having secured a pledge that Delugach would not run for the seat - including as a write-in candidate - and would not endorse any of the candidates seeking the seat.

``I find it ironic at a time when we are seeking to give people a greater voice in government that we would let this seat remain vacant for more than six months. And, with term limits, we are going to face this more and more,'' said Chick, herself a candidate for City Controller because of term limits.

``There are several critical issues facing the city and we are talking about 250,000 people not having a voice.''

Before she left for the Assembly, Goldberg tried without success to get her colleagues to agree to name Delugach to the post.

Given the deadline of 5 p.m. Tuesday for candidates to declare their intention to enter the April election, Delugach said it is impossible for her to get on the ballot.

``I will not run as a write-in (either),'' she said. ``I will not endorse anyone who is running. My only concern is providing some representation for these last months.''

Among the issues of concern are dealing with the upcoming 2001-02 budget, said the Rev. Jeff Carr, heading up a group calling itself the Ad Hoc Coalition for Council Representation.

``Jackie Goldberg did a good job in getting resources for our district,'' Carr said. ``We are afraid that without a representative on the council, we will not get our fair share.''

The group was joined by USC law professor Erwin Chemerinsky, who chaired the elected Charter Reform Commission, in urging action by the council.

``In our deliberations, we specifically discussed the issues of vacancies,'' Chemerinsky said. ``And we urged that action be taken quickly to appoint a successor or hold a special election.''

The council is scheduled to debate the Chick proposal Tuesday.

It has been the council's tradition not to appoint a permanent council member since 1965, when it appointed Peggy Stevenson to complete the term of her husband, former Councilman Bob Stevenson, after his death. She was subsequently elected to two full terms on the council.

``The council decided it didn't want to give an advantage to anyone,'' said Gayle Johnson, spokeswoman for council President John Ferraro. ``Also, it didn't want the expense of an additional election when the regular election is usually coming up soon.''

Instead, it has appointed a representative of the Chief Legislative Analyst's Office to oversee the operations of that district.

There have been numerous cases over the past dozen years in which offices have been vacant, two recent ones involving districts either entirely or mostly in the San Fernando Valley.