BACA REFLECTS ON CAMPAIGN.

Byline: Dan Lee

For Sheriff-elect Lee Baca, the campaign for Los Angeles County's top law enforcement job was like a heavyweight prize fight.

During his election-night speech at the Ritz-Carlton Huntington Hotel in Pasadena, he likened the campaign to going ``15 rounds.''

He had to take on the powerful incumbent Sherman Block, a ``professional father figure'' of his who had held the office for 16 years and had the endorsement of all five county supervisors. Baca also had to endure Block's attacks on his ethics, integrity and credibility.

``To hear him say the things he was saying was tough,'' the 56-year-old Baca said in an interview last week. ``I knew that this was a political fight. It wasn't about professional accomplishments. . . . There are no rules. Anything goes.''

Baca resigned from the Sheriff's Department in June after a 32-year career to campaign full-time, not knowing if he would ever return to active duty.

``It was somewhat traumatic, quite frankly, to leave a career I worked all my adult life in,'' he said. ``It took a couple months to adjust to the fact that I had resigned.''

But in the end, Baca defeated the 74-year-old Block - who died of a brain hemorrhage just days before the election. The Pasadena resident will be sworn into the $207,000-a-year post Dec. 7.

Veteran Los Angeles political consultant Joe Cerrell said after the election that the campaign was Baca's ``baptism by fire.''

``He acted as a candidate as if he was a sheriff becoming a politician,'' Cerrell said. ``He's really a professional law enforcement (administrator), not a politician. He made a lot of mistakes.''

Block's campaign, however, may also have made mistakes by trying to portray Baca as a ``horrible human being,'' the consultant added.

``He's where he is today because of Sherman Block,'' Cerrell said. ``If Baca was incompetent, then Block was incompetent in (promoting him). (Baca) had the guts to go up there and do battle.''

Baca, who hit the road Friday to begin inspecting each of the department's stations and jails, originally decided to run for sheriff because of Block's health. The sheriff had survived two bouts with cancer and was on kidney dialysis three times a week.

Encouraged by others within the department, Baca, who was one of Block's division chiefs, said he told the sheriff as far back as January 1994 that he intended to run for the top job in 1998.

The sheriff was initially supportive, Baca said, but then announced in 1995 that he would seek a fifth term in office.

Over the next two years, Baca and Block supporters had discussions about the asking incumbent to step down and take a role as ``sheriff emeritus'' - much as Block's predecessor, Peter J. Pitchess, had done. The talks were encouraged by mutual friends of both men, Baca said.

The discussions went nowhere, and the issue would later come back to haunt Baca during the campaign.

Block himself attacked Baca for offering the deal to drop out of the race and support the challenger. Block supporters alleged Baca had even offered the sheriff continued perks.

It was especially difficult for Baca to hear criticism coming from Block, whose brother, Mel, had recruited him into the department in 1965. Block - who Baca described as a ``professional father figure,'' - had given him promotions and awards.

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PHOTO Lee Baca

Will be sworn into office Dec. 7