28-YEAR-OLD COURT CASE RAISED BY HAHN IN DEBATE.

Byline: Rick Orlov Staff Writer

Los Angeles Mayor James Hahn portrayed himself on Saturday as an agent of change - and depicted his opponent, Councilman Antonio Villaraigosa, as a defender of the status quo when it comes to crime and education issues - during a campaign debate in which Hahn also raised a 28-year-old criminal case against his rival.

In their fourth and final scheduled debate before the May 17 runoff, Hahn took an aggressive stance against Villaraigosa in the match-up sponsored by Univision and La Opinion for a Spanish-speaking audience.

At one point when Villaraigosa was critical of Hahn for failing to take responsibility for a series of investigations into his administration on corruption accusations, Hahn fired back at Villaraigosa.

``As a former president of the ACLU and defender of due process and someone who personally benefited from due process, you should know better than to make wild accusations,'' Hahn said.

Neither man would discuss specifics, but Hahn campaign advisers said it dated back to a 1977 incident when Villaraigosa, at the age of 23 or 24, was accused of misdemeanor assault. There was a hung jury and the charges were dismissed.

Villaraigosa was caught by surprise during the debate and afterward said he did not know what Hahn was talking about.

Hahn also said he would not provide specifics. But it drew an angry response from the Villaraigosa campaign.

``Just when you think Hahn can't sink any lower, he does something like this,'' spokesman Nathan James said.

Hahn's campaign manager, Bill Carrick, defended the use of the incident as an example of Villaraigosa being disingenuous when it came to an issue such as due process.

``He was given due process and now he wants to deny it to the mayor,'' Carrick said.

Villaraigosa repeated his vow not to participate in any additional debates with Hahn before the election.

``All these are is mudslinging,'' Villaraigosa said. ``I'm not a little boy anymore. I plan to talk directly to voters.''

Throughout the debate, Hahn said he had been driving change in the city when it came to fighting crime, funding the city's affordable housing trust fund and with his plans for education if he is elected to a second term.

``You have a real choice in this election,'' Hahn said. ``Councilman Villaraigosa wants to defend the status quo. I want to make changes. We can't afford to keep the status quo.''

Hahn said Villaraigosa is too linked to support from United Teachers Los Angeles to push a reform agenda and had shown himself opposed to changes in the police department.

``When it comes to public safety, we can't afford to go back.'' Hahn said, defending his decision to oppose a second term for former Chief Bernard Parks and bringing in Bill Bratton to head the LAPD.

``I knew it would cost me politically,'' Hahn said. ``But it was worth it. Crime is down. I think of all the lives we have saved by cutting the number of homicides in the city.''

The mayor also continued his attack on Villaraigosa's past opposition to gang injunctions.

Hahn also discussed his proposal made last week to appoint three members to the Los Angeles Board of Education to give the mayor a greater role in the Los Angeles Unified School District.

Villaraigosa has countered with his own proposal to have a City Charter change to bring the LAUSD under the authority of the Mayor's Office, as is done in New York City and Chicago.

``Jim Hahn has had three years to make a change in the school system and all he has done is expand an after-school program,'' Villaraigosa said. ``For him to say he is an agent for change is ridiculous.''

Rick Orlov, [phone]

rick.orlov(at)dailynews.com

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Photo:

(color) Los Angeles Mayor James Hahn, left, and challenger Councilman Antonio Villaraigosa shake hands Saturday after a debate at Univision studios.

Evan Yee/Staff Photographer