Westside Races at a Glance

For the first time in years, Westside voters will decide several truly competitive races. Redistricting has altered the political landscape, sharply narrowing the advantage Democrats had in some areas. The retirement of several incumbents has left some open seats , ensuring new faces in Sacramento and Washington, and in municipal and county governments as well.

Congress

24th District: Malibu, the western San Fernando Valley from Sherman Oaks to Westlake Village and portions of Ventura County.

Candidates: Democratic Rep. Anthony C. Beilenson of Los Angeles, seeking a ninth term, is getting a stiff challenge from Republican Assemblyman Tom McClintock of Thousand Oaks. Peace and Freedom Party candidate John Paul Lindblad is also on the ballot.

29th District: From Santa Monica and Pacific Palisades to Hollywood-Los Feliz, including the Santa Monica Mountains and Hollywood Hills.

Candidates: Democratic Rep. Henry A. Waxman of Los Angeles is seeking a 10th term. Waxman faces Republican Mark A. Robbins, Libertarian Felix Tsvi Rogin, Peace and Freedom Party candidate Susan C. Davies, and Independent David Davis.

32nd District: Mar Vista, Palms, portions of West Los Angeles, Culver City, mid-City and Crenshaw, and parts of South-Central Los Angeles.

Candidates: Democratic Rep. Julian C. Dixon of Los Angeles is seeking an eighth term. He has no Republican challenger but faces Libertarian Bob Weber, and Peace and Freedom Party candidate William R. Williams.

36th District: Follows the coast from Venice, Marina del Rey, Playa del Rey and Westchester through the South Bay beach cities to the Palos Verdes Peninsula.

Candidates: Open seat. Democrat Jane Harman, an attorney, faces Republican Joan Milke Flores, a Los Angeles city councilwoman. Green Party candidate Richard H. Greene, Libertarian Marc F. Denny, and Peace and Freedom Party candidate Owen Staley are also on the ballot.

Assembly

41st District: Santa Monica, Brentwood, Pacific Palisades, Malibu and southwestern San Fernando Valley.

Candidates: Democratic Assemblyman Terry B. Friedman of Los Angeles is running for a fourth term against Republican Christine Reed, a former Santa Monica city councilwoman. Libertarian Roy A. Sykes Jr. is also on the ballot.

42nd District: Most of the Westside east of Santa Monica and generally north of Wilshire Boulevard. Includes the Hollywood Hills and southern edge of the San Fernando Valley.

Candidates: Democratic Assemblyman Burt Margolin is seeking a sixth term against Republican Robert Davis, Libertarian Andrew S. Rotter, and Peace and Freedom Party candidate Timothy Burdick.

47th District: Rancho Park, Culver City, Palms, Mid-City, Baldwin Hills and Crenshaw.

Candidates: Democratic Assemblywoman Gwen Moore is running for an eighth term against Republican Jonathan Leonard, Libertarian Chuck Hammill, and Peace and Freedom Party candidate Yassin A. Saededdin.

53rd District: Mar Vista, Westchester, Venice, and down the coast to Redondo Beach and Torrance.

Candidates: An open seat. Democrat Debra Bowen, a Marina del Rey attorney, faces Republican Brad Parton, mayor of Redondo Beach. Libertarian William N. Gaillard is also on the ballot.

State Senate

23rd District: Most of the Westside from Hollywood to Malibu and the lower San Fernando Valley from Studio City to Westlake Village.

Candidates: Democratic Assemblyman Tom Hayden of Santa Monica is opposed by Republican Leonard H. McRoskey, Libertarian William Weilburg, and Peace and Freedom candidate Shirley R. Isaacson.

Los Angeles County Supervisor

2nd District: Culver City, Mar Vista, mid-Wilshire, Koreatown, Crenshaw, Inglewood, South-Central Los Angeles, Hawthorne, Lawndale, Gardena, Carson, Lynwood and Compton.

Candidates: State Sen. Diane Watson of Los Angeles and former Rep. Yvonne Brathwaite Burke are in a spirited fight for the open seat created by the retirement of Supervisor Kenneth Hahn.

4th District: A broad coastal crescent from Venice to Long Beach, including much of the South Bay, as well as the southern tier of the county as far east as Diamond Bar.

Candidates: Supervisor Deane Dana was forced into a runoff against Rollings Hills City Councilwoman Gordana Swanson.

Santa Monica

City Council: 18 candidates are competing for four seats.

Rent Board: Three candidates are competing for two seats.

Ballot Measures: Proposition R would raise City Council salaries to $600 a month from $50, provide medical and dental benefits to council members, and establish term limits. Proposition S would extensively amend the City Charter to implement recommendations made by a Charter Review Commission.

Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District

Board of Trustees: Five candidates are competing for three seats.

Santa Monica Community College District

Board of Trustees: Five candidates are competing for three seats.

Ballot Measure: Proposition T would authorize a $23-million bond issue to pay for capital improvements at Santa Monica College facilities. The cost would be passed on to homeowners and renters via increased property taxes. Homeowners would pay an average of $40 more per year for 25 years; the average renter would pay $12 a year.

West Hollywood

Ballot Measure: Proposition AA directs the City Council to establish an independent police force for the city. Law enforcement services in West Hollywood are now provided by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.