Heated Race Expected for Braude Seat

With San Fernando Valley City Council incumbents facing little in the way of major opposition in their reelection bids, the hottest April contest is expected to be the race to replace retiring Councilman Marvin Braude.

In fact, Councilman Mike Feuer is heading into his first reelection bid facing only one relatively unknown challenger after Sherman Oaks businessman Jeff Brain announced Monday that he was pulling out of the race.

As of Monday--the end of the filing period for city posts--16 candidates have thrown their hats into the ring for four Valley council seats.

But the most contentious and most expensive race is expected to be the contest to fill the post that Braude has held for 32 years, representing a district that stretches from Van Nuys to Pacific Palisades.

The leading candidates are Cindy Miscikowski, Braude’s former chief of staff, and Georgia Mercer, a former aide to Mayor Richard Riordan.

Miscikowski said she has raised about $166,000 and has $100,000 on hand. Mercer said she has raised about $100,000 and has $58,000 on hand. Both candidates are expected to seek matching funds from the city.

The campaign has already begun to heat up, with Miscikowski and Mercer challenging each other to run clean campaigns.

Miscikowski challenged Mercer to sign a pledge to run “an honest and fair campaign” and promise not to mention the name of any opponent in any campaign literature.

Mercer responded Monday with a campaign pledge that would allow candidates to “discuss areas of an opponent’s background or affiliation that may affect the opponent’s performance in the City Council.”

Mercer’s pledge appears to signal that she will continue to make an issue of Miscikowski’s husband, Doug Ring, a prominent developer and lobbyist.

Also running for Braude’s post is Mark Isler, the president of a distributing company and host of a cable access show. Other candidates include real estate broker and former Animal Regulation Commission member Russ Cook, businessman Scott Wagenseller, homicide detective Ed Hale, attorney Craig Steven Bloom, administrator Doug Friedman and businessman James Watt McCormick.

The only other Valley council race that was expected to create some sparks turned into a cake walk when Brain dropped out of the race against Feuer.

Brain, who lost to Feuer two years ago, said he decided instead to run for a seat on a proposed charter reform panel that voters will be asked to create in April.

Brain said he wants to be on that panel to help write a charter that will give neighborhoods more influence over City Hall decisions.

Feuer, whose district stretches from Sherman Oaks to Westwood, is being challenged by Elijah Rosenberg, a real estate manager.

Councilman Richard Alarcon, who represents the northeast Valley, is being challenged by Ollie M. McCaulley, a Sylmar businessman.

Laura Chick, who represents the West Valley, is being challenged by Mort Diamond, a small-business advocate, and environmentalist Peter Ireland.