Brad Sherman Criticizes Redistricting Commission for Splitting Valley Village

Proposed congressional lines approved by California Citizens Redistricting Commission last month  in two, and one congressman is already looking to win voters in the new district.

Democratic Rep. Brad Sherman hosted a town hall meeting at the Neighborhood Council Valley Village Wednesday night as part of a campaign stop on his bid for the 30th Congressional District, which would include 90 percent of the neighborhood.

Sherman, who is vying for the seat with Valley opponent Rep. Howard Berman (D-Van Nuys), told residents in attendance that he is confident because the district that the commission drew includes 60 percent of the people he currently represents, and 25 percent of the people he represented until 2002. 

The election is over a year away, yet an internal poll conducted by Sherman's campaign showed him leading the race on Tuesday. 

"It’s not a fair fight," said Sherman. "I’ve been representing the west San Fernando Valley since 1997."

The congressman said that the east San Fernando Valley seat, however, includes neighborhoods that Berman has been representing for 30 years. Berman has not expressed interest in running for that seat, the 29th District, and has stated previously that he intends to run in the 30th district. 

Los Angeles City Councilman for the 29th Congressional District, which includes the remaining 10 percent of Valley Village and all of North Hollywood. Cardenas currently represents a L.A. City Council District 6 that includes a portion of North Hollywood. 

"If you run where people are familiar with you, then if you do a good job, then you should be at an advantage," said Sherman.

When a resident asked what his advantage is besides geography, Sherman joked, "I'm better looking."

He criticized the finalized congressional plan for splitting Valley Village and called the mapping of the San Fernando Valley a "crazy plan."

There are a lot of communities that were split for no reason, he said, even though the commission knew they were supposed to keep Valley neighborhoods intact.

"Splitting Valley Village was one of one hundred mistakes that was done by the commission," he said.

The west Valley seat that Sherman is running for also includes Studio City, Toluca Lake, Sherman Oaks and a corner of Burbank. 

When asked about policy, Sherman said he wanted to get rid of the filibuster in the Senate, a response which elicited applause from the audience.

"I would rather have a Senate that would make decisions than a Senate where anything can be blocked," he said.

A resident in the audience criticized democrats for "playing by the rules" and not being forceful with articulating information to the public.

"It is not my goal to be the Michele Bachmann of the Democratic Party," he responded. 

Sherman said that President Barack Obama "holds all the cards" and there won't be a better deal once he has made one.

"The President is the chief of our party, as well as the president of our country," he continued. "I put more effort into trying to get him to think like you than for criticizing him for not thinking like you."

Sherman said that when Obama arrived in Washington, D.C. in 2009, he "dramatically understated" the country's economic woes. 

"He's paying for that everyday," he said.

Sherman invited residents who did not have the opportunity to ask questions to attend a town hall meeting at Reseda High School at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 28.