Can you use variables when creating views?

I am testing the creation of a view. When I hard code the parameter for the the field pendcds as below:

create sql view tranhdr remote connection novtrans as SELECT * FROM tranhdr ;
WHERE pendcds = 'w16' and repaired = 0 AND valerror = 0

I have no problem, but when I pass a veriable, as below:

lcPendcds = "w16"
create sql view tranhdr remote connection novtrans as SELECT * FROM tranhdr ;
WHERE pendcds = &lcPendcds and repaired = 0 AND valerror = 0

I get an error stating that no filed named 'w16'.

Question how to get around this?