CANDIDATES POUND PAVEMENT ATTACKS CONTINUE AS RACE GOES INTO FINAL DAYS.

Byline: Rick Orlov Staff Writer

Fanning out across the city as the election clock counts down, the major candidates for mayor on Saturday voiced optimism over their prospects and worked to energize supporters to turn out the vote in Tuesday's election.

From opening day ceremonies at Little League games to bowling alleys, restaurants and neighborhood streets, the campaigns made their last-minute appeals as they planted lawn signs and made calls to voters.

Mayor James Hahn, seeking his second four-year term, is locked in a tight contest with the man he defeated four years ago, Councilman Antonio Villaraigosa, as well as former Assembly Speaker Bob Hertzberg, according to independent polls. Councilman Bernard Parks and state Sen. Richard Alarcon, D-Van Nuys, also are considered strong rivals.

``This is a dead heat,'' said Hahn consultant Kam Kuwata. ``This is nervous time. This is the exciting time.''

Voters go to the polls on Tuesday in a race that turned negative in its final week, with Hahn and his two main competitors exchanging charges against one another.

Hahn continued to sharpen his attacks against Hertzberg when he got about 300 supporters chanting, ``Bob, Bob, who's your clients?

``We don't know who we'll be electing if Bob Hertzberg wins because he won't tell us who his clients are,'' Hahn shouted. ``He's getting $25,000 a month from a law firm while he's campaigning and he won't release his client list.''

Hertzberg last week released a partial list of organizations and firms he represents as an attorney, including work for the city Community Redevelopment Agency and the Department of Water and Power. Hahn acknowledged he had sought out Hertzberg for the CRA work.

Hertzberg said he was prohibited from identifying his clients because of the attorney-client privilege.

Hahn said he was encouraged by the support he has received over the past week since beginning his attacks on Hertzberg and Villaraigosa, and believed he would make the May 17 runoff.

``It took a while, but you can feel it building,'' Hahn said. ``We're hot now.''

Hertzberg voiced similar optimism as he talked to patrons at The Original Pantry restaurant in downtown Los Angeles, accompanied by the restaurant's owner, former Mayor Richard Riordan.

``I want us to deal with the issues facing this city and the need to make a change,'' Hertzberg said outside the restaurant.

Riordan said he hoped voters would ignore the attacks.

``Now is the time to look at who would be the best leader for the city and get out and vote,'' Riordan said.

Villaraigosa, in the meantime, was taking a more than 40-hour campaign bus tour around the city, visiting voters at bowling alleys and ball games, in restaurants and campaign headquarters.

``We are going this long to show that we need a mayor with energy, someone who is able to go to all parts of the city and talk to people about their dreams and their goals,'' Villaraigosa said.

Also, he said he is encouraged by the level of support in areas where he did not do well four years ago.

``I was in Chatsworth and people told me they want a change,'' Villaraigosa said. ``I think it's because (Hahn) has a record now that they don't like and that they trust me now. They see what I've done in my district.''

The day also brought a case of candidate gridlock.

Villaraigosa and Alarcon both arrived at the Sylmar Little League for opening day ceremonies and organizers were caught on who should throw out the opening pitch. Avoiding playing favorites, they turned to Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky to start the season for them.

Alarcon later staged a rally with volunteers at Los Angeles City Hall, where he appeared with comedian-actor George Lopez.

Parks was walking precincts in various parts of the city and greeted voters at a deli in Westwood Village.

Rick Orlov, [phone]

rick.orlov(at)dailynews.com