BOARD SPLIT OVER TOP JOB : SOURCES SAY 3 BACK ZACARIAS, 3 OPPOSE, TOKOFSKY IN MIDDLE.

Byline: Terri Hardy Daily News Staff Writer

As the Los Angeles Board of Education concluded another closed-door session Thursday on who should lead the nation's second-largest school system, sources inside and outside the district say there are three votes for and against Ruben Zacarias, the district's second-in-command.

The man in the middle, sources say, is David Tokofsky, who represents portions of the San Fernando Valley and east Los Angeles.

Sources said Tokofsky is pushing for former bank executive William Siart. And although some board members were impressed by New York regional superintendent Daniel Domenech, there is no apparent groundswell of support to have him take over the district's reins.

Board members continue to grapple with ways to avoid a painful decision by bringing in a combination of the candidates. There was thought that the 68-year-old Zacarias could be given the post for two years, with one of the other candidates brought in as heir apparent.

Zacarias has stated that if he were superintendent he would consider using Siart as his financial czar.

But hopes for a team approach appeared to fizzle Thursday when Siart and Domenech said they would not accept that deal.

``I've been a superintendent for 19 years. I've been the person in charge, the decision maker,'' Domenech said from New York on Thursday. ``I have no desire to take a step back in my career.''

Siart on Thursday agreed that he had no interest in a No. 2 position.

``That is not the person who sets the agenda, sets the direction or is responsible for reorganization,'' Siart said.

Board members, meanwhile, refuse to talk about the week's three sessions but said no vote has yet been taken. They hope to reach a decision next week or the week after.

As deliberations continue, Tokofsky, whose district includes a large Latino population, is getting pressure from activists demanding that the Mexican-American Zacarias should be superintendent.

The United Coalition, an umbrella organization for various ethnic groups, has aggressively pushed for Zacarias, saying he is the most qualified candidate. And in a district where 68 percent of the students are Latinos, they argue Zacarias will be more sensitive to the needs of the LAUSD's large minority population.

Some insiders said that these Latino groups are threatening to recall Tokofsky if he does not cast his vote for Zacarias.

``Tokofsky won his board seat by only 75 votes, so he's very vulnerable if he has other political ambitions,'' one district official said.

Tokofsky said he wasn't concerned and had received few calls so far.

``I'll be available tonight between `Seinfeld' and `ER' if they want to call,'' Tokofsky said. ``And I do have voice mail.''

Gina Alonso, who heads the United Coalition, said her group continues to lobby the board members.

``We're getting national and state organizations, parents and politicians to write letters and make phone calls supporting Zacarias,'' she said.

Outside political forces are more supportive of Domenech, sources said.

And while the United Teachers-Los Angles union is quick to say it does not back any candidate at this point, UTLA President Day Higuchi, noted that there are questions over whether Zacarias can make substantial changes.

``We have questions about his ability to deal with real reform,'' Higuchi said.

Zacarias has been favored by three school board members who voiced their support since the search process began. They are Vickie Castro, who represents a Latino-dominated area in southeast Los Angeles; Barbara Boudreaux, Castro's closest board ally whose district incorporates South Central and southwest Los Angeles; and George Kiriyama, a veteran board member who represents the southernmost portions of the district.

While Latino activists said they felt assured of those votes, others question just how solid that support truly is.

On Thursday, Kiriyama said that while he went into the selection process favoring Zacarias, he ``has an open mind right now.''

``There are pluses and minuses for each candidate,'' he said.

Kiriyama said his office was getting many phone calls about the candidates, and he had asked his secretary to tally which candidate was most favored.

Board President Jeff Horton and Mark Slavkin are expected to push for an outsider.

``They want someone different. Their attitude is anyone but Zacarias,'' Higuchi said.

Board member Julie Korenstein said she remained undecided. She has voiced concerns about bringing in a noneducator - which would rule out Siart.

Korenstein has said she was impressed by Domenech, although some sources feel she would be willing to back Zacarias.

``She wouldn't be willing to cast the deciding fourth vote, but she'd probably be willing to be the fifth vote,'' a district official said.

While some believe Domenech, a bilingual Cuban-American, would pacify Latino activists, Sigifredo Lopez, director of the Parent Community Coalition, said: ``L.A. is very different from New York. There, you have Cubans, Puerto Ricans and Dominicans. Here, most people come from Mexico.''

``We don't want another (Los Angeles Police Chief) Willie Williams,'' he said.