Byline: Dominic Berbeo Staff Writer
Congressional incumbents across the San Fernando Valley region appear ready to return to Capitol Hill, as most easily outpolled their rivals in the primary and have superior financial backing for the Nov. 7 election.
In the blanket primary in March, incumbent Rep. Brad Sherman, D-Woodland Hills, dominated the race for re-election in the 24th District, which stretches from Sherman Oaks to Thousand Oaks.
``People are pleased with my priority of prudent government spending,'' said Sherman, seeking a third two-year term. ``Nevertheless, we're aggressively raising funds to be prepared for any stealth activities by the Republicans.''
Sherman's Republican opponent, Woodland Hills actor Jerry Doyle, didn't spend a dime in the primary. Even though his 43,000 votes amounted to fewer than half as many as Sherman received, Doyle says the district is one where Republicans should devote more resources.
``This is a district that can be won over,'' Doyle said. ``Our main issue is less taxation, and we think that's what people want.''
In 1998, Republican candidate Randy Hoffman spent roughly $1 million against Sherman in an unsuccessful bid to unseat him.
Other candidates in the 24th District include Libertarian Juan Carlos Ros, a Van Nuys businessman and executive director of the state Libertarian Party, who said he's frustrated by the access and big bucks fund raising enjoyed by the top two parties, and Natural Law candidate Michael Cuddehe of Laguna Niguel. (The law does not require candidates to live in the congressional district.)
In the 25th District, covering the north San Fernando Valley, Santa Clarita Valley and Antelope Valley - where Republican voters have a numerical advantage over Democrats - Rep. Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon has held the office for the past eight years.
McKeon, an advocate of more defense spending, drew 63 percent of the vote in the March primary in a district in which 45 percent of voters are Republicans and 37 percent Democrats.
Democratic challenger Sid Gold, a Granada Hills physician, has laid out plans to aggressively campaign until Nov. 7, with backing from fellow Democrats including Gov. Gray Davis, Rep. Howard Berman, D-Mission Hills, and Sherman.
Libertarian candidate Bruce Acker, a Chatsworth engineer, and Natural Law candidate Mews Small, a Littlerock actress, both said they are frustrated with the big spending in congressional races.
``I'm fed up with the money game and the partisan arguments over nonissues,'' said Acker. ``Politicians should be addressing the real issues, like waste in government spending.''
Berman, in Congress since 1982, is running for re-election in the neighboring 26th District where Democrats overwhelmingly dominate the voter rolls. The district spans across the East Valley, including North Hollywood, Mission Hills and San Fernando, with Democrats outnumbering GOP voters, 59 percent to 22 percent.
Berman, who captured 85 percent of the primary vote, has raised some $830,000 in this campaign and has no Republican opponent.
Third-party candidates in the 26th district include Valley Village therapist David L. Cossak of the Natural Law Party, and Libertarian Bill Farley, director of communications for Playboy. Farley said he was in the race not to win but to push the important issues and increase the Democratic process.
In the 29th District, which stretches from the Southeast Valley to the Hollywood Hills and the Westside, Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Los Angeles, has held office since 1974. Democratic registration outnumbers the GOP's by a 2-1 ratio in the district.
Waxman, a national leader on health issues and a proponent of universal health care, captured 114,000 votes in the blanket primary, compared with 27,800 for Republican candidate Jim Scileppi, his top challenger.
``We may not be able to compete with their money,'' said Scileppi, an attorney, ``but I plan to challenge Waxman to a debate and let the people decide.''
U.S. CONGRESS, DISTRICT 24
BRAD SHERMAN
Party: Democrat
Age: 45
Occupation: Congressman
Residence: Woodland Hills
Web site: www.house.gov/Sherman
Money raised: $500,000
JERRY DOYLE
Party: Republican
Age: 44
Occupation: Actor
Residence: Woodland Hills
Web site: www.doyleforcongress.com
Money raised: Not available
JUAN CARLOS ROS
Party: Libertarian
Age: 32
Occupation: Political activist
Residence: Tarzana
Web site: home.earthlink.net/[broken (vertical) bar]juanros
Money raised: $1,000
MICHAEL CUDDEHE
Party: Natural Law
Age: 52
Occupation: Capital consultant
Residence: Laguna Niguel
Web site: None
Money raised: None
U.S. CONGRESS, DISTRICT 25
HOWARD P. ``BUCK'' McKEON
Party: Republican
Age: 61
Occupation: Congressman
Residence: Santa Clarita
Web site: www.BuckMcKeon.com
Money raised: $485,000
SID GOLD
Party: Democrat
Age: 56
Occupation: Physician
Residence: Granada Hills
Web site: www.SidGold2000.com
Money raised: $25,000
BRUCE R. ACKER
Party: Libertarian
Age: 44
Occupation: Engineer
Residence: Chatsworth
Web site: None
Money raised: None
MEWS SMALL
Party: Natural Law
Age: Not available
Occupation: Actress; singer
Residence: Littlerock
Web site: None
Money raised: $1,000
U.S. CONGRESS, DISTRICT 26
HOWARD L. BERMAN
Party: Democrat
Age: 59
Occupation: Congressman
Residence: Mission Hills
Web site: www.house.gov/Berman
Money raised: $830,000
BILL FARLEY
Party: Libertarian
Age: 56
Occupation: business executive
Residence: Sun Valley
Web site: none
Money raised: none
DAVID L. COSSAK
Party: Natural Law
Age: 48
Occupation: therapist
Residence: Valley Village
Web site: www.dnet.org
Money raised: none
U.S. CONGRESS, DISTRICT 29
HENRY A. WAXMAN
Party: Democrat
Age: 61
Occupation: Congressman
Residence: Beverly Hills
Web site: www.house.gov/Waxman
Money raised: $300,000
JIM SCILEPPI
Party: Republican
Age: 37
Occupation: Attorney
Residence: Los Angeles
Web site: www.scileppiforcongress.com
Money raised: $15,000
JACK ANDERSON
Party: Libertarian
Age: 37
Occupation: Businessman
Residence: Irvine
Web site: None
Money raised: less than $5,000
BRUCE CURRIVAN
Party: Natural Law
Age: 49
Occupation: Electronics engineer
Residence: Irvine
Web site: www.angelfire.com/ca5/votenlp29
Money raised: None
CAPTION(S):
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Box: U.S CONGRESS DISTRICT 24, 25, 26, 29 (See text)
