3 NOMINATED FOR AIRPORT PANEL ENCINO ATTORNEY AMONG THOSE PICKED BY HAHN.

Byline: Rick Orlov Staff Writer

Moving to fill vacancies to advance his $9.1 billion master plan for Los Angeles International Airport, Mayor James Hahn on Thursday nominated three new members of the Airport Commission, the panel that has been at the center of controversy.

``I am confident that each of these people will bring energy, experience and commitment to the Airport Commission to continue to make public safety the No. 1 priority at LAX,'' Hahn said in a statement.

The mayor said he was nominating attorney Jerome Stanley of Encino, attorney David Voss of Westchester and businessman Walter Zifkin of West Los Angeles to the panel.

They will fill the vacancies created with the resignations earlier this year of commissioners Ted Stein and Eileen Levine and of Commissioner Alan Llorens, who resigned this week.

Stein had been serving as commission president whose political activities are being reviewed by separate county and federal grand juries into whether there is a ``pay-to-play'' system for contractors to make contributions to win city business.

Stein has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing to the accusations first raised in audits by city Controller Laura Chick.

Stanley is president of Stanley and Associates, a sports law firm that has represented such athletes as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Rodney Peete and Keyshawn Johnson.

Stanley is the first African-American sports agent ever to represent the top NFL draft choice.

``I am thrilled that Mayor Hahn has given me this opportunity to represent Valley residents and serve all residents by working to enhance LAX,'' Stanley said.

Councilwoman Cindy Miscikowski, who represents the airport area, said she knows Voss and believes he would be a good commissioner.

``He is very familiar with LAX and airport issues and will be an asset to the commission,'' she said.

Councilman Tony Cardenas, who chairs a committee dealing with airports, questioned whether the new appointees would be open-minded or blindly push Hahn's agenda.

``I hope these decisions were not made in an effort to manipulate a predetermined outcome,'' Cardenas said in a written statement. ``I will now be required to view the proposed plan with an even finer-tooth comb.''

Voss is a member of the Neighborhood Council of Westchester/Playa Del Rey and president of the Westchester Chamber of Commerce. Hahn recently had nominated him to the West Los Angeles Planning Commission.

Zifkin is chief executive officer of the William Morris Agency and has been involved with numerous charities over the years.

The new appointments come as the Airport Commission is considering final approval of the LAX master plan, which has generated its own controversy with opponents questioning Hahn's commitment to limiting passenger growth to 78 million a year.

The plan also would reduce the number of boarding gates by demolishing some terminals and create a separate ground transportation center where passengers and luggage would be screened.

A vote by the Airport Commission is scheduled for June 14, before it goes to the city Planning Commission and the City Council for action.

Miscikowski has proposed action that would give the City Council greater authority over LAX development by tying it to a specific plan.

Staff Writer James Nash contributed to this report.

Rick Orlov, [phone]

rick.orlov(at)dailynews.com