There are candidates running in California’s 30th whose names don’t end in -erman?

Rep. Howard Berman, Rep. Brad Sherman and Mark Reed may have been the only candidates on the stage at the Jewish Journal-sponsored debate at Temple Judea on February 21, but there are other candidates running for the right to represent California’s 30th district in congress—including a third Jewish candidate, a restaurateur, an historian and a freelance gardener.

According to the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk’s website, four Republicans, three Democrats and one member of the Green Party started the process of declaring themselves candidates for congress in the West San Fernando Valley.

Of those eight, one—Phil Jennerjahn, who in the last three years has run unsuccessfully for Los Angeles City Council, United States Congress and Los Angeles City mayor—appears to have decided that the 28th District is a better fit for him. At least there he’ll only be facing one Jewish incumbent Democratic congressman, Rep. Adam Schiff—along with half a dozen (or more) other candidates.

But this blog is about the West Valley, so over the coming weeks, we’ll run down the list of the candidates whose names could appear on the ballot in June’s primary alongside the better known Berman and Sherman.