1-YEAR COUNTDOWN BEGINS FOR DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION.

Byline: Rick Orlov Staff Writer

The one-year countdown to the Democratic National Convention coming to Los Angeles begins today, and officials said Friday they are on target to host the three days of events leading to the nomination of the party's presidential candidate.

With events of the past week, security came up as a priority.

``We are already planning for the convention and are prepared to have more than $7 million in overtime set aside to deal with security,'' Mayor Richard Riordan said.

Most of the attention, however, was on the status of the convention planning.

Billionaire Eli Broad, co-chair of the 2000 Host Committee, said the group has raised $19.4 million of the $34 million it has pledged to stage the event through a private-public partnership.

``We are using a unique model - the Olympic model - and I hope it serves as a model for the Democratic and Republican conventions of the future,'' he said.

``The last time a convention was held in Los Angeles was in 1960, and John F. Kennedy was elected to begin the New Frontier. Next year, we will elect the president for the New Millennium.''

The Los Angeles bid relies heavily on private contributions, with government providing in-kind services of planning, security and traffic control.

Broad said a list of contributors would be made available in September.

Lucy McCoy, president of the committee, said the effort has received bipartisan support.

``Whoever we call up and tell them what we're doing, all they ask is what can they do,'' McCoy said. ``I have never been involved in a project where there is so much enthusiasm.''

McCoy said the committee is working on a variety of fronts to build community involvement in the event, to be held at Staples Center, which is set to open in October.

Former Colorado Gov. Roy Romer, who is general chairman of the Democratic National Committee, said he was pleased with the preparations and looked forward to a convention where the party could outline its issues.

``We want to talk to voters about our differences on education, on health care and how to keep the economy booming,'' Romer said.

The convention means big business for the city, with an estimated take of $137 million in revenue.

It also provides a chance to showcase the city.

``There have been estimates that this will be worth $1 billion in advertising,'' McCoy said. ``You just can't buy that kind of exposure. And, it gives us a chance to let the world see that Los Angeles is more than movies and beaches, that there is a real community here.''