Roberti Won’t Run Against Yaroslavsky in County Race

Citing divisiveness and the “obscenely excessive” cost of running against another powerful Democrat, state Senate leader David A. Roberti (D-Van Nuys) said Wednesday that he will not join the race to succeed retiring Los Angeles County Supervisor Ed Edelman.

His decision makes veteran Los Angeles City Councilman Zev Yaroslavsky, also a Democrat, the front-runner to replace Edelman, political consultants said. Yaroslavsky announced his candidacy last week after a series of other political figures said they would not seek the supervisorial seat.

Roberti said he would not seek Edelman’s 3rd District seat after reviewing the results of a poll of voters in the sprawling district, which covers much of the San Fernando Valley and Westside.

Roberti spokesman Steve Glazer said the poll showed that the powerful Senate president pro tempore would “be highly competitive” in a race against Yaroslavsky, who has represented a mostly Westside constituency since 1975.

But it also revealed that a Roberti win would require “campaign spending that would be obscenely excessive and a debate that would be divisive,” Glazer said. Both Roberti and Yaroslavsky are liberal Democrats.

Glazer said the senator will continue to explore the possibility of running for state treasurer.

With Roberti out of the race, Yaroslavsky’s only announced opponent is retired Los Angeles County Fire Capt. Don Wallace, who ran in 1992 against Supervisor Mike Antonovich. At the time, Antonovich represented much of what is now the 3rd District.

But Yaroslavsky has much better name recognition and is expected to raise far more campaign money than Wallace.

“Obviously, I’m pleased,” Yaroslavsky said. “David was the last remaining elected official actively considering the race.

Political consultants said the senator’s decision indicates he believes he could not win a race against Yaroslavsky.

“It’s plain as day that their polling showed that they would not be able to put together a winning campaign,” said Democratic political adviser Richard Lichtenstein.