Antonovich voices interest in state Senate seat

Stump speeches are common in politics, but this weekend when longtime Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich announced he’s running for California state Senate in 2016, he made what might be called a bumper speech.

Antonovich spoke at the third annual La Crescenta Valley Republican Women Federated picnic at Two Strike Park on Saturday, where the hood and front bumper of Phil Downs’ 1956 Willys Jeep CJ-3B served as the podium, covered with a patriotic table cloth and some bunting.

The 75-year-old Republican, who has served on the Board of Supervisors since 1980 and will be forced out of office by term limits next year, has said he was eyeing the seat now held by Carol Liu (D-La Cañada), who will herself be termed out next year.

This weekend’s announcement appears to be one of the first times he’s committed to run in a formal public setting, and it surprised some of the picnickers.

“We were just flabbergasted,” said Mary Wollam, one of the Republican women who organized the event and lined up the slate of speakers.

Wollam said she was “very honored and touched” that Antonovich came to the event, which she said drew about 75 people, mostly Republicans.

Downs, who served as the master of ceremonies for the picnic, said he heard after the announcement that Antonovich’s inner circle had been aware of the plans, but he wasn’t.

“I’m not in that kind of circle,” Downs said.

Natalie Blanning, managing partner with the political consulting firm Gilliard Blanning & Associates Inc., based near Sacramento in Rocklin, Calif., said Antonovich hired her firm a few weeks ago and has been interviewing fundraisers and other potential campaign staff. She said he’s also in the process of opening a candidate committee.

“We’re preparing to run,” she said. “It’s not a well-kept secret.”

Antonovich’s supervisorial district, which includes Burbank, Glendale and Pasadena, overlaps the 25th state Senate district. Democrats in the Senate district outnumber Republicans and Liu’s seat has drawn several contenders from the Democratic Party, including former Pasadena Police Lt. Phlunte’ Riddle, former Assemblyman Anthony Portantino from La Cañada and current Assemblyman Mike Gatto (D-Glendale).

Gatto said in an interview last month that there are likely going to be at least seven candidates in the race, at least six of them Democrats, and that it would not be a “Coke or Pepsi” choice between him and Portantino.

Antonovich, who lives in Glendale, could not be reached personally for comment, but in June he told the Los Angeles Times that he believes a Republican can win the seat.

“The people are going to vote based on who represents them best, and I have an effective record representing the area,” he said.

Blanning said it would not be an easy race to win, adding that it’s not news that the district favors Democrats, but she said Antonovich has “a fantastic record ... a long list of accomplishments.”

Wollam said Antonovich, who was elected to State Assembly in 1972 and served until 1978 and has more than 35 years on the Board of Supervisors, is well known and has “a pretty good shot at it, especially in the current climate.”

The picnic’s other speakers included Tom Del Beccaro, U.S. Senate candidate, and Jack Orswell, a candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives from California’s 27th Congressional District. Three candidates vying for Antonovich’s seat also spoke, including Kathryn Barger, his chief of staff who he as endorsed.

All the Republicans she knows — at least the women in her group — would be willing to work for Antonovich’s campaign, Wollam added.

“But I don’t think he’s going to need much help,” she said. “I’m optimistic.”