Hart to Close Office in Woodland Hills

Declaring that he is seeking to comply with a voter-approved initiative, Sen. Gary K. Hart (D-Santa Barbara) on Tuesday announced that, effective Jan. 31, he is closing his Woodland Hills district office.

Hart said his decision was prompted by the passage in November of Proposition 140, which established term limits for lawmakers and cut the Legislature’s annual budget by at least 40%. Even though he is closing the office, Hart said he “will continue to try and offer people in my district the type of constituent services they have come to expect and deserve.”

Hart’s Los Angeles County office provides services to Woodland Hills, Canoga Park, Topanga, part of Calabasas and Malibu--where registered voters make up about 18% of his 18th Senate District. Most of Hart’s district is in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties, where his two other district offices are expected to remain open.

As a result of the passage of Proposition 140, Hart’s 20-member office and committee staff is also being cut by about one-third, Hart aide Joe Caves said. Among the positions being eliminated are a field representative and administrative assistant based in Woodland Hills, Caves said.