By Jorge Casuso

Former City Councilman Tony Vazquez received the overwhelming support of the city's powerful tenants group Sunday in his bid to become the first Hispanic to represent the Westside in the State Assembly. He is vying to fill the 41st district seat vacated by Sheila Kuehl, who cannot seek re-election under term limits.

Members of Santa Monicans for Renters Rights also voted to endorse Kuehl in her bid for Tom Hayden's seat on the state senate. Hayden shocked his supporters last month when he announced he would not be seeking to return to Sacramento after his term expires next year.

"We're delighted by the strong show of support from those who are active in the community," said Bruce Cameron, who is Vazquez's campaign treasurer. "It was a heartening display of support."

Vazquez's opponents in the March Democratic primary include school board member Brenda Gottfried, also a member of SMRR; S. David Freeman, the CEO of the Department of Water and Power, and Fran Pavley, a former mayor of Agoura Hills who also has sat on the California Coastal Commission.

Vazquez, who was a member of the Santa Monica City Council from 1990 until 1994, shares a similar platform with his opponents, who are focusing on education, health care and affordable housing. Gottfried has made education the centerpiece of her campaign.

After his unsuccessful reelection bid to the council, Vazquez served as State Sen. Richard Alarcon's chief of staff when the senator was a member of the Los Angeles City Council.

Kuehl, who will have served her limit of three two-year terms next year, will face Assemblyman Wally Knox from the neighboring 42nd district in her bid for Hayden's seat. The senate district encompasses both Kuehl's and Knox's districts and represents 800,000 residents. State senators can serve two four-year terms.

Kuehl's district stretches from Venice north to the Valley and east to Westwood. The district has never had a Latino representative.