CHALLENGES AWAIT NEXT MAYOR OF L.A.

Byline: Rick Orlov Staff Writer

The next mayor of Los Angeles gets more power under the new City Charter and will need it to deal with a softening economy, demands for improved services and a looming vote on secession by nearly half the city.

More so that at any point since Tom Bradley was elected mayor 28 years ago, the city is widely seen to be at a turning point that will determine the quality of life for its residents for the next generation.

Police scandal, paramedic shortages, freeway gridlock and inadequate mass transit, broken sidewalks and crumbling streets, neighborhood deterioration, failing schools - the list goes on and on.

The next mayor will face far more complex issues and a more demanding electorate than Richard Riordan did eight years ago when he won with a promise to put more police on the streets.

It is not only whether Los Angeles remains united, but how and where services are provided, how the city will prosper and, even though it is beyond the mayor's power, where and how children are educated.

``People are voting for a quality of life rather than fear for life itself,'' said H. Eric Schockman, a University of Southern California political science professor. ``Things have really changed in the city. In the past, going back to the 1960s, people always voted out of fear rather than vision.

``Today, we have people talking about the future. It's very significant and something we should relish.''

There are six major candidates and the 15 contenders for mayor in the April 10 primary, and the top two finishers will compete in the June 5 runoff.

All of the top candidates offer a breadth of experience, and none can be counted out of making the runoff at this point.

From City Hall, there are City Attorney James Hahn, Councilman Joel Wachs and former mayoral adviser and parks Commissioner Steve Soboroff.

From Sacramento and Washington, there are state Controller Kathleen Connell, former Assembly Speaker Antonio Villaraigosa and Rep. Xavier Becerra, D-Los Angeles.

``I think it's a win-win situation for the city and for us,'' said Julie Butcher, general manager of the Service Employees International Union, Local 347, which represents most city workers.

``There is not a candidate running for mayor that we wouldn't be willing to work with.''

Butcher said she believes there is a change in public attitude toward government and its workers - due primarily to Riordan and the privatization campaign he waged early in his first term.

``Riordan forced us to come to grips with the anti-government attitude and make us change and show pride in our work,'' Butcher said. ``In spite of him or because of him, we have changed. Sometimes you do the right things for the wrong reason.''

Butcher said she is optimistic about the election, even with all the challenges facing Los Angeles.

``I think it may be part of all this new millennium stuff,'' Butcher said. ``Does the city want to be that great patchwork and mosaic of diversity we all talk about or does it divide itself? Does it want to step up and be the grand city it can be? That's what this election is about.''

It also is the secession movement that has driven much of the debate.

Xandra Kayden, president of the League of Women Voters in Los Angeles, said the secession movement is focusing attention on the nuts and bolts issues of representative government.

``When we were going around teaching about the new charter, everywhere we went people complained that they didn't have access to government or weren't getting their fair share,'' Kayden said. ``There is this perception that everything is going elsewhere in the city, whether it's street repairs or tree trimming.

``Now, with neighborhood councils, people are going to expect to begin seeing those services and the next mayor will have to deal with those expectations.''

Richard Close, chairman of Valley Voters Organized Toward Empowerment, the organization that led the campaign for a study of Valley cityhood that has been emulated in Hollywood and the Harbor area, said his group's concern is how the next mayor addresses the secession movements.

``What we hope is the next mayor is someone who will allow the voters to consider this and not interfere by having the city file a lawsuit,'' Close said. ``And we hope if it is on the ballot that he or she will allow the voters to decide the issue without using the power and prestige of the Mayor's Office to campaign against it.''

Erwin Chemerinsky, the USC law professor who chaired the Elected Charter Reform Commission, agreed on the importance of the new City Charter and secession issues, but also saw an opportunity for a new style of leadership to emerge.

``Dick Riordan has not used all the power he has,'' Chemerinsky said. ``I think the next mayor, no matter which of these wins, will be more effective in speaking out and using the bully pulpit of the office. The power of the bully pulpit is there only if someone uses it.''

Throughout his eight years in office, Riordan has held few news conferences and his major addresses have been primarily on issues affecting police and education.

``The next mayor will have these expanded powers under the new charter and have to deal with some of the most serious issues any city has to face,'' Chemerinsky said. ``The new mayor will have to look at reforming the Police Department, overseeing the implementation of the consent decree as well as how we continue to handle the Department of Water and Power.

``I don't want to use hyperbole, but in a very real sense the city is at a crossroads with a chance to make a new start.''

In addition to electing a new mayor, voters will be electing a whole new leadership with openings for city attorney, city controller and no incumbents in six of eight City Council races on the ballot.

Joel Kotkin, senior fellow of the Davenport Institute on Public Policy at Pepperdine University, however, sees strong economic problems to be dealt with.

``We are looking at electing a mayor in a political culture of economic prosperity who will have to manage during a recession,'' Kotkin said. ``Nationwide, I think we are looking at a recession and if we do have an actors' strike, we will be in bad shape.

``We will need a mayor who can lead us through some tough economic times.''

As part of that, the city has to change itself to keep business and attract new firms, said Mel Kohn of the Valley Industry and Commerce Association's business tax advisory committee.

``As a business person and resident, I'm concerned about safety and education,'' Kohn said. ``But we also have to look at how we keep this city working, at a mayor who supports business and the economics of the city.''

CAPTION(S):

6 photos, 2 boxes

Photo: (1 -- color) XAVIER BECERRA

(2 -- color) KATHLEEN CONNELL

(3 -- color) JAMES KENNETH HAHN

(4 -- color) STEVE SOBOROFF

(5 -- color) ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA

(6 -- color) JOEL WACHS

Box: (1) MAYORAL CANDIDATES

(2) WHERE THEY STAND