BLOCK CHALLENGER GOES ON ATTACK; BACA SAYS SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT MISMANAGED.

Byline: Douglas Haberman Daily News Staff Writer

Sporting a new appearance and a strikingly aggressive style, Lee Baca went on the attack against Sheriff Sherman Block for the first time in the campaign on Friday during a debate filmed for broadcast at the Century Communications studio in Santa Monica.

Baca, a former division chief whose strong second-place finish in the primary helped force Block into his first runoff, had previously refrained from criticizing Block or his management of the department.

``We can longer afford a part-time, ceremonial sheriff,'' Baca said in his opening statement, making a veiled reference to Block's health. The sheriff undergoes 3-1/2 hours of kidney dialysis two work days a week as well as one weekend day, and has had two bouts with cancer.

Baca, no longer sporting a comb-over hairstyle, accused the 74-year-old incumbent of isolating himself from the department's 55 captains, giving them too little direction and too few resources. He said Block has slashed important management positions to the detriment of programs and criticized as inadequate the regimen for training deputies.

Block, seeking his fifth term, said he is in good health and defended his management of the department. ``I work 60 to 70 hours a week, and I'm hardly isolated,'' he said. He said his captains are competent, trustworthy professionals, so he's decentralized operation of the department.

Pressed by moderator Bill Rosendahl, Block promised to serve the full four-year term if re-elected rather than serve a portion of it then give up the seat to someone groomed as his successor. ``I can tell you I'm aware of everything of importance that's going on in the department,'' Block said.

He offered a new accusation of his own: Baca failed to vote in two elections, including one in March 1996 when the ballot included two measures to strengthen penalties against criminals who commit murder during a carjacking and those who commit drive-by shootings with intent to kill. Block's campaign staff supplied photocopies of the polling list for the two elections, showing Baca didn't sign.

``I think he may be right on that,'' Baca admitted. But he quickly went on to say what really matters is enforcing the two laws, which he said he supports. He implied Block's shifting of certain supervisors has impeded efforts to control gang activity, such as drive-by shootings.

``We're on top of the gang situation,'' Block responded.

Baca cited a number of bureaus, including the Aero Bureau, the Emergency Operations Bureau and the Safe Streets Bureau, where he said Block slashed management positions. ``You do not provide effective management when you take people out,'' Baca said.

Block said budgetary limitations require making choices but added, ``I can tell you the management is there and the effectiveness.''

Baca's campaign staff said Baca decided to take off the kid gloves in the half-hour debate because Block has attacked him personally in recent weeks. ``I think Lee had had enough,'' spokesman Jorge Flores said.

``Looks like they told him to get a haircut,'' Block said jokingly after the debate.

But Block's campaign manager, John Shallman, said the new Baca represents ``a major flip-flop from the primary,'' when Baca had nothing but kind words for the sheriff and even offered to keep him on as sheriff emeritus if he would step aside to make way for Baca.

``What Lee Baca will we find tomorrow?'' Shallman asked.

The debate will be broadcast on Century Communications at 3 p.m. Sunday, 9:30 p.m. Thursday and 12:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. Friday.