County supervisor's birthday barbecue a Valley tradition

This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press July 23, 2001.

By DENNIS ANDERSON
Valley Press Editor

LANCASTER - A lot of people never make it to a 20-year class reunion, but Los Angeles County "Mayor" Michael D. Antonovich has an annual reunion at the home of Ted and Dixie Eliopulos that's been going on for more than two decades.

Every year, the 5th District county supervisor travels to the Valley to celebrate his birthday at a barbecue served up on the widespread greensward that is the Eliopulos back yard.

Antonovich's sprawling north Los Angeles County district includes the Antelope Valley to the Kern and San Bernardino county lines. The district shares a characteristic with the Eliopulos back yard. Both are plenty big.

The home that Ted and Dixie Eliopulos set their hearts on in 1959 is on nearly an acre of green, with an oversized open pit barbecue that can prepare dozens of steaks "with all the trimmings," and an atmosphere that is open and relaxing. The Antonovich event runs the same way.

"It actually is bipartisan," hostess Dixie Eliopulos said.

"It is nonpartisan," agreed Antonovich, who serves in a nonpartisan office representing millions in a populated district greater than the size of many states. "It's also relaxing and just fun."

Ted Eliopulos initiated the event, flowing from his own interests and participation in county and state Republican politics.

Asked if he were a political junkie, he replied quietly, "Well, I wouldn't go that far." Then he grinned.

So, since 1981, Jack Abney and Leroy Harrington have run the grill, and the Eliopuloses have enjoyed the company, 250 to 300 or so of their closest friends who turn out to support Antonovich.

"My priority on election was to recognize that the Antelope Valley is an important part of our county," Antonovich said. "That's why we opened a district office up here and keep it staffed every day."

Longtime Antonovich stalwarts Sherry Lasagna and Pat Russell take care of the details at the office - and with the barbecue. Lasagna handles the humor, and Russell? Russell has known Antonovich for a little while.

"We both attended John Marshall High School in Glendale together," Antonovich said.

For Ted Eliopulos, support for the longtime supervisor predated Antonovich's two decades-plus run with the Board of Supervisors.

"Ted and Dixie were two of my original supporters," Antonovich said in a telephone interview from his offices in downtown Los Angeles.

"Mike was in the Legislature, and Ted was organizing a lamb barbecue to support the kids from Future Farmers of America and the 4-H kids," Dixie Eliopulos said.

An attraction to the event is a stable, modest price. The ticket price has been $30 for more than two decades for the friendship, the fun, the inevitable political chatter.

"The price has never changed," Ted said. "And people eat."

Dixie added, "As younger people tended to stay away from politics, if they come to this event, they see it's a community event and meet people. Then they say, `That was fun!' Down below, there are lots of thousand-dollar-a-plate fund-raisers, but this is only $30."

Antonovich, looking a decade younger than his vigorous 61 years, will travel up with his wife, Christine; his son, Michael Jr., who just topped the 2-year mark; and his 6-month-old daughter, Mary Christine.

As it has been since the advent of the Reagan administration, the Antonovich birthday barbecue fund-raiser is at 2657 West Ave. K.

For more information, call Darth at AV Escrow, (661) 942-9514 for tickets and information.