By most political standards, Jose Galvan would make a pretty good candidate for state Assembly representing the northeast San Fernando Valley.

A longtime Sylmar resident who works as a librarian, Galvan is secretary of the Valley chapter of the Mexican American Political Assn. and a veteran of voter registration drives among local Latinos.

He has run three times for public office in Los Angeles and, though never elected, has acquired wide knowledge of fund raising and campaigning tactics.

And best of all, he is a Latino in an Assembly district where Latinos make up nearly two-thirds of the population.

In fact, Galvan is considering a run in the 39th Assembly District. But to win, he would have to beat a well-entrenched Anglo incumbent, Democrat Richard Katz of Sylmar.

And therein lies a political paradox.

As a result of the state Supreme Court's recent redrawing of California's legislative and congressional district lines, two Valley districts--Katz's Assembly district and the 26th Congressional District seat held by Rep. Howard L. Berman (D-Panorama City)--contain solid Latino majorities.

One of the court's main goals in redrawing the boundaries was to concentrate Latinos and other minorities in certain districts, boosting their political power. Latinos make up 62% of Katz's district and nearly 53% of Berman's.

Yet no Latino candidate has formally emerged to challenge Katz or Berman, and many Latino activists believe neither incumbent can be defeated in the near future.

There are several reasons, say Latino activists.

For one thing, levels of Latino voter registration are relatively low, in part because many believe their communities have long been ignored by Anglo politicians.

For example, although Latinos make up more than half the population in Berman's reconstituted district, only 25% of registered voters are Latino.

Moreover, many Latinos are not U.S. citizens or are younger than 18--and therefore not eligible to vote.

In the case of Katz and Berman, another factor works against would-be Latino challengers: Both incumbents are generally popular among Latinos and viewed as supportive of programs benefiting the poor, blue-collar workers and the elderly--classes that include many Latinos.

Historically, Latinos have been underrepresented in California government despite their large and growing numbers in the population.