Dario Frommer

Clashing over school reform, runaway film production and gay marriage, Republican Craig Missakian faced Democrat Dario Frommer on Thursday in their first debate for the hotly contested 43rd Assembly District seat. Missakian, an Armenian American attorney and former county prosecutor, and Frommer, a Latino attorney and former appointments secretary for Gov. Gray Davis, are vying in a district that includes parts of Glendale, Burbank, Toluca Lake, Los Feliz and Hollywood.

Democrats headed toward victory Tuesday in most of the San Fernando Valley's state legislative races, further cementing the area's reputation as an emerging Democratic stronghold. The tightest race had Republican Craig Missakian battling with Democrat Dario Frommer for the 43rd Assembly District in the Glendale-Burbank area, a fiercely contested region swamped by campaign mailers, phone banks and door-to-door canvassers.

Clashing over issues of school reform, gay marriage and the loss of film productions, Republican Craig Missakian faced Democrat Dario Frommer on Thursday in their first debate for the hotly contested 43rd Assembly District seat. Missakian, an Armenian American attorney and former county prosecutor, and Frommer, a Latino attorney who is former appointments secretary for Gov. Gray Davis, are vying for a district that includes parts of Glendale, Burbank, Toluca Lake, Los Feliz and Hollywood.

Almost every day, democracy is crammed anew into Jean Webster's mailbox in Glendale. It tumbles out when she unlocks the tiny metal door--handfuls of political mail clamoring for her vote. The tally on a recent day: four mailers from James Rogan, the Republican congressman fighting to hang on to his seat; two from his opponent, Democratic state Sen.

Dario Frommer, Gov. Gray Davis' former appointments secretary, said Monday he has decided to become a Democratic candidate for the 43rd Assembly District seat being vacated by Scott Wildman (D-Los Angeles), kicking off what is expected to be a hotly contested race. The big question is whether Davis will become involved.

Republican candidates urged repeal of the state's 18-cent-per-gallon gasoline tax and congressional contenders clashed over abortion in debates in three key San Fernando Valley races Tuesday. With less than a month until the Nov. 7 election, college students and teachers heard a spirited exchange between the 43rd Assembly District contenders, Democrat Dario Frommer and Republican Craig Missakian.

With the final countdown to the March 7 primary underway, money is pouring into local campaign coffers, highlighting the importance of some area races. Amanda Susskind, running for the Assembly, reported more than $100,000 in contributions from Native American tribes in her latest campaign finance report. Susskind's 42nd Assembly District Democratic primary race is already one of the most expensive primaries of its kind in California history.

Almost every day, democracy is crammed anew into Jean Webster's mailbox in Glendale. It tumbles out when she unlocks the tiny metal door--handfuls of political mail clamoring for her vote. The tally on a recent day: four mailers from James Rogan, the Republican congressman fighting to hang on to his seat; two from his opponent, Democratic state Sen.

One is an attorney who went to Hoover High School, and supports abortion rights, handgun registration and a lower threshold to pass school bonds. The other is a former prosecutor who graduated from cross-town rival Glendale High School, and wants to restrict abortions and opposes handgun registration and the proposal to lower the two-thirds majority required for school bonds.

With less than three weeks till the Nov. 7 election, candidates in four key state legislative races in the San Fernando Valley clashed Friday over the best ways to fix schools and freeways and halt runaway film production. The Valley Industry and Commerce Assn. forums, attended by about 50 Valley business leaders at the Airtel Plaza Hotel, featured sharp exchanges involving all eight major party candidates in the 21st Senate District and 41st, 43rd and 44th Assembly districts.

One is an attorney who went to Hoover High School, and supports abortion rights, handgun registration and a lower threshold to pass school bonds. The other is a former prosecutor who graduated from cross-town rival Glendale High School, and wants to restrict abortions and opposes handgun registration and the proposal to lower the two-thirds majority required for school bonds.

One is an attorney who went to Glendale's Hoover High School and supports abortion rights, handgun registration and making it easier to pass school bond proposals. The other, also an attorney, graduated from cross-town rival Glendale High School and wants to restrict abortions and opposes handgun registration and the proposal to lower the two-thirds majority required to pass school bonds.

With less than three weeks till the Nov. 7 election, candidates in four key state legislative races in the San Fernando Valley clashed Friday over the best ways to fix schools and freeways and halt runaway film production. The Valley Industry and Commerce Assn. forums, attended by about 50 Valley business leaders at the Airtel Plaza Hotel, featured sharp exchanges involving all eight major party candidates in the 21st Senate District and 41st, 43rd and 44th Assembly districts.

Republican candidates urged repeal of the state's 18-cent-per-gallon gasoline tax and congressional contenders clashed over abortion in debates in three key San Fernando Valley races Tuesday. With less than a month until the Nov. 7 election, college students and teachers heard a spirited exchange between the 43rd Assembly District contenders, Democrat Dario Frommer and Republican Craig Missakian.

Clashing over issues of school reform, gay marriage and the loss of film productions, Republican Craig Missakian faced Democrat Dario Frommer on Thursday in their first debate for the hotly contested 43rd Assembly District seat. Missakian, an Armenian American attorney and former county prosecutor, and Frommer, a Latino attorney who is former appointments secretary for Gov. Gray Davis, are vying for a district that includes parts of Glendale, Burbank, Toluca Lake, Los Feliz and Hollywood.

Clashing over school reform, runaway film production and gay marriage, Republican Craig Missakian faced Democrat Dario Frommer on Thursday in their first debate for the hotly contested 43rd Assembly District seat. Missakian, an Armenian American attorney and former county prosecutor, and Frommer, a Latino attorney and former appointments secretary for Gov. Gray Davis, are vying in a district that includes parts of Glendale, Burbank, Toluca Lake, Los Feliz and Hollywood.

One is an attorney who went to Glendale's Hoover High School and supports abortion rights, handgun registration and making it easier to pass school bond proposals. The other, also an attorney, graduated from cross-town rival Glendale High School and wants to restrict abortions and opposes handgun registration and the proposal to lower the two-thirds majority required to pass school bonds.

Democrats headed toward victory Tuesday in most of the San Fernando Valley's state legislative races, further cementing the area's reputation as an emerging Democratic stronghold. The tightest race had Republican Craig Missakian battling with Democrat Dario Frommer for the 43rd Assembly District in the Glendale-Burbank area, a fiercely contested region swamped by campaign mailers, phone banks and door-to-door canvassers.

Glendale, Burbank and Pasadena have become California's most fiercely contested political battleground this year, strategists say, with candidates for Congress and the Legislature raising more than $10 million. Feeding the flood of cash are the districts' pivotal roles in power struggles in Sacramento and Washington. State and national party leaders have said they will spend whatever it takes to capture the swing districts where the San Gabriel and San Fernando valleys meet.

With the final countdown to the March 7 primary underway, money is pouring into local campaign coffers, highlighting the importance of some area races. Amanda Susskind, running for the Assembly, reported more than $100,000 in contributions from Native American tribes in her latest campaign finance report. Susskind's 42nd Assembly District Democratic primary race is already one of the most expensive primaries of its kind in California history.