CHALLENGERS TAKE ON COP TAX, ETHICS HERTZBERG AND VILLARAIGOSA STEP OUT IN HAHN'S ABSENCE.

Byline: Rick Orlov Staff Writer

With Mayor James Hahn on a campaign fund-raising trip in Sacramento, challengers Bob Hertzberg and Antonio Villaraigosa went on the offensive over the police tax issue and City Hall corruption.

Villaraigosa proposed changes in the city ethics law to weaken the influence on city campaigns exerted by independent expenditure committees, which are groups that operate outside the control of any candidate.

He also signed a 12-point pledge on steps he would take if elected. Among these would be to remove any lobbyists from city commissions, appoint aides based on experience, open the decision-making process at City Hall and make himself available to the public and other officials on a regular basis.

``It is time to stop making excuses,'' Villaraigosa said. ``The people of Los Angeles deserve an honest and ethical government, not one that rewards campaign contributors with lucrative contracts.''

He said he wants independent expenditure committees to declare early on what their intentions are and for candidates they attack to be able to raise more money to defend themselves.

``In the coming weeks, we are going to see hundreds of thousands of dollars spent by these committees and we need to find a way to balance the field.''

Hertzberg, a former Assembly speaker like Villaraigosa, renewed his proposal to use 25 percent of all new revenue to hire police officers - a move he said would increase the Police Department by 2,600 officers in eight years without raising taxes.

The council is set today to vote on Hahn's proposal to put on the ballot a measure that would increase the sales tax one-half percent to hire more police officers and firefighters.

``We don't need another tax,'' Hertzberg said at a City Hall news conference. ``What we need is better management.

``This is a question of priorities. The city of L.A. is broken because of Jim Hahn's management.''

Hertzberg said his review of the city's budget shows that it has increased by $480 million over the past four years. If 25 percent of that was used to hire new police, the department would have 1,200 more officers than its current 9,100, he said.

Hahn's campaign blamed the city's problems on the amount of local property tax money the state has taken from local government over the years.

Campaign strategist Kam Kuwata dismissed Villaraigosa's proposal for ethics reform as gimmickry.

Hahn supports campaign reform and has had proposals pending before the City Council to limit campaign contributions since last February, he said.

``Our view is simple. The mayor has proposed a very comprehensive campaign finance plan and all they need to do is pass it rather than come up with some political gimmickry.''

Aides to Hahn would not say how much money he expected to raise at the $500-a-person event that featured several legislators and was organized by lobbyist Darius Anderson. All of the proceeds are to be used in the mayor's campaign account.

``This is not a major fund-raiser, but is a chance for the mayor to meet with some friends and supporters,'' Kuwata said.

Rick Orlov, [phone]

rick.orlov(at)dailynews.com