CANDIDATES FOCUS ON REVIVING CITY ENDORSEMENTS ALSO TAKE HIGH PROFILE IN CAMPAIGN.

Byline: Rick Orlov Staff Writer

Two of the top mayoral candidates stressed the importance of neighborhoods Tuesday as the campaigns continued heating up before next Tuesday's municipal elections.

Former Assembly Speaker Antonio Villaraigosa and U.S. Rep. Xavier Becerra, D-Los Angeles, in separate events, talked about their proposals to revive and protect neighborhoods.

Villaraigosa discussed his ``LA-21'' plan, which he said was designed to fend off the efforts by areas to break off from Los Angeles.

``Even as several of L.A.'s communities talk about splitting off to become their own cities, it has never been more clear that we all face many of the same challenges and share many of the same hopes and dreams,'' Villaraigosa said.

At the same time, Becerra - who picked up the endorsement of Juana Gutierrez, founder of the Mothers of East L.A. - said his proposals were designed to include neighborhoods in planning for their future, provide incentives in mixed-use projects and investment in affordable housing.

Becerra said he also would seek tougher penalties on slumlords, clean up vacant lots and make them available for open space, and work to develop programs bringing children and seniors together.

In other developments, businessman Steve Soboroff - the only Republican in the officially nonpartisan race - formally received the endorsement of U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.

The Soboroff campaign plans to use McCain's appeal to independent voters even as the state Republican Party sends out mailers to GOP members to win their votes. Also, Soboroff is using Mayor Richard Riordan in a computerized telephone-bank operation to contact voters.

City Attorney James Hahn campaigned among older voters at a senior-citizen center as he drew criticism from a group of retired Los Angeles police officers for his handling of police overtime as a result of the riots following the Rodney King beating verdict.

The officers said Hahn and other city officials rejected a $300,000 settlement offer in the case and the city ended up having to pay $40 million. Hahn has said his office was following instructions of the mayor and City Council.

In the race for city attorney, Deputy District Attorney Lea D'Agostino picked up the endorsement of retired San Fernando Valley GOP Congresswoman Bobbi Fiedler and attorney Gloria Allred.

Sheriff Lee Baca endorsed Deputy Mayor Rocky Delgadillo.

Councilman Mike Feuer's campaign for city attorney released a mailing from the National Rifle Association urging voters to oppose him.

The NRA mailing also opposed mayoral candidates Hahn, Villaraigosa, Becerra and state Controller Kathleen Connell; city controller candidate Councilwoman Laura Chick; City Council candidates Tom Hayden and Constantina Milonopoulos in the 5th District; and incumbent council members Alex Padilla and Cindy Miscikowski.