Los Angeles Daily News

Challengers may be blindsided by smooth Hahn style
By Rick Orlov
Staff Writer

Sunday, November 21, 2004 - Mayor James Hahn's announcement late last week that he will participate, after all, in a televised debate with his major challengers on Dec. 2 has prompted a semi-feeding frenzy among his opponents.

For months, there have been snide comments and open criticism of Hahn. Now they're convinced they have him where they want him.

But, based on experience, they might want to be careful in getting what they wished for.

First, Hahn always has done better than expected in debates.

A lawyer by training, a career city official and the son of a lifelong politician, Hahn knows the issues facing the city better than just about anyone. And, despite a laid-back attitude, Hahn can be forceful when he needs to be.

Second, holding the debate at the Simon Wiesenthal Center may serve to mute severe criticism among the candidates because of the religious overtones of the setting.

Third, being on television -- the event is scheduled to be broadcast by KNBC-TV (Channel 4) -- there will be fairly strict limits on what candidates can do and say.

And, finally, it is the first debate for the candidates. Like prizefighters entering the ring, they may be reluctant to come out swinging before testing the others' strong spots. Such precautions, however, have not meant much to a couple of the contenders.

City Councilman Bernard Parks, whom Hahn opposed for a second term as police chief, indicated he plans to continue to make crime his top issue -- even in the face of statistics showing crime has dropped since he was replaced by Police Chief Bill Bratton.

Parks released a list of five questions he plans to ask the mayor, dealing with the three-day workweek of police officers and its impact on response time, recruitment and homicides in the city. Meanwhile, former Assembly Speaker Bob Hertzberg, who has been the biggest user of the Internet for the campaign, is offering his own shots at the mayor -- even as he decries negative campaigning.

For the past several weeks, Hertzberg has been harping about Hahn ducking debates, including asking people to sign an electronic petition to the mayor.

Now, while espousing peace, Hertzberg is taking another shot.

"All too often, political campaigns are negative affairs. Petty bickering, mud-slinging and even personal charges bordering on slander are commonplace," Hertzberg said. "I want to run a substantive campaign based on issues."

In line with the "issues" as Hertzberg sees them, his Web site polls visitors on what were Hahn's best moves since becoming mayor. It offers five primary choices: hiring Bratton, promoting after-school programs, reducing crime, improving the business climate and improving the housing stock.

But he saves his biggest point for last: The mayor not having any good moves. Not surprisingly, that is the category with the biggest response. One would think that after watching the political scene for the better part of two decades, City Council candidate Bill Rosendahl would be beyond surprise.

Yet he professes to find himself shocked almost daily that he is being criticized by an opponent in the March 8 election for the 11th District seat.

Flora Gil Krisiloff, through her campaign manager Rick Taylor, has challenged Rosendahl's description of himself as a "university professor-distinguished lecturer."

"Sadly, Ms. Krisiloff seems to believe she must attempt to undermine Bill's credibility to advance her own campaign," Rosendahl campaign manager Mike Bonin wrote supporters last week.

Taylor won't let up on the issue -- particularly now that he knows it is stinging Rosendahl. Taylor indicated last week he is prepared to go to court to force a change in the ballot title. Using the Internet as both a modern day sandwich board and a chain letter crying out for attention, a little-known candidate for mayor is trying to get into the League of Women Voters debate on Dec. 2.

Walter Moore, a business attorney from Playa Del Rey, is one of the 20 declared candidates in the March 8 election, who claims to be the only Republican running in the nonpartisan race.

Moore has his supporters flooding the League of Women Voters, various talk radio and media outlets to take up his cause to join the five leading candidates.

The league will be hard pressed to include him, however, and exclude any of the other lesser knowns, including such perpetual candidates as Addie Mae Miller and Martin Luther King Aubrey Jr.

For Moore, it means he will somehow have to prove his candidacy is more than just an announcement and an Internet fancy.

Rick Orlov, (213) 978-0390 rick.orlov@dailynews.com