Miscikowski Meets Council, This Time as a Colleague

After more than two decades as an aide-in-waiting, Councilwoman-elect Cindy Miscikowski was introduced to her new Spring Street colleagues as a peer Wednesday morning after defeating former mayoral aide Georgia Mercer by 1,375 votes.

The 52.8% to 47.2% victory for Miscikowski represented a comeback from a disappointing primary effort in which she finished second to Mercer in a four-way race to represent a district that is split almost evenly between the San Fernando Valley and the Westside.

It was also the realization of Miscikowski’s dream to succeed her former boss, 11th District Councilman Marvin Braude, who introduced her to the council less than 12 hours after her win in a tight, costly contest with Mercer became apparent late Tuesday night.

The two spent more than $1 million, Mercer raising about $566,000, while Miscikowski collected a war chest of $580,000.

Miscikowski, deemed the front-runner from the outset, credited her disappointing showing in the primary for waking up a complacent campaign, which she said had taken the election for granted.

“My supporters got angry and got out there,” she said. “There was a definite, different feel in the general campaign than in the primary.”

Miscikowski also revamped her entire campaign, adding a field operation of paid walkers and phone banks, a crucial element in a low turnout election in which who votes takes on added significance.

Mercer used just such a solid field operation to upset Miscikowski in the primary.

Mercer called to concede and congratulate Miscikowski about 12:30 a.m., ending her two-year effort to become a public official.

“It’s a crushing defeat, but I have absolutely no regrets,” Mercer said Wednesday. “There’s nothing I’d rather have done and no way I’d rather have done it.”

A political axiom--that negative campaigning works--held true in the council election.

In the primary, Mercer attacked Miscikowski over the gated community in which she lives and her financial backing from lobbyists and developers, while Miscikowski ran all positive mail that did not mention her opponent.

After the second-place finish, however, Miscikowski went on the offensive, blasting Mercer for, among other things, saying that homeowner associations have too much power in the city and as being too liberal.

“I am shocked they didn’t go negative with us, because it worked in the primary,” said Miscikowski consultant Rick Taylor.

“I wished now we had attacked her in three-fourths of our mail,” Mercer consultant Larry Levine said.

While Mercer succeeded in the primary by relying heavily on her 32-year residency and voters’ discontent with City Hall, Miscikowski said she was able to cut into Mercer’s Valley support while hanging on to her Westside stronghold. Miscikowski lives in Brentwood.

At a City Hall press conference Wednesday, Miscikowski said her highest priority is creation of neighborhood councils in the district, first in Van Nuys because it is represented by five different council members.

Neighborhood councils also were central to Mercer’s platform.

Miscikowski credited strong absentee voter support from Republicans with helping her win.

Times staff writers Hugo Martin and Julie Tamaki contributed to this story.