CHICK SAYS SHE WON'T RUN FOR HAHN'S JOB CONTROLLER POST SUITS HER.

Byline: Rick Orlov Staff Writer

Ending months of speculation, Los Angeles City Controller Laura Chick announced Thursday she will seek re-election to her post and not take on Mayor James Hahn in next year's election.

Chick, who had supported Hahn in the past, said she has grown increasingly upset with the mayor's response to audits her office conducted of the Department of Airports and other agencies as well as with his overall leadership of the city.

``When I endorsed him last summer, it was one of those spontaneous things,'' Chick said. ``I'm sorry I wasn't more thoughtful and perhaps it would have been better to wait longer. You can't foretell events in politics. I'm still waiting to see if Mayor Hahn is going to put out a vision and turn on a dime in terms of changing into a strong leader.''

Hahn said he would not discuss Chick's comments.

In the meantime, as she prepares her own campaign, Chick said she will be closely watching the mayor's race that now includes Councilman Bernard Parks and state Sen. Richard Alarcon, D-Van Nuys. Attorney Walter Moore also filed.

Waiting in the wings as possible candidates are Assembly Speaker Bob Hertzberg of Sherman Oaks and Councilman Antonio Villaraigosa, among others.

``I think it's good for the city to have such qualified people,'' Chick said. ``We will have a lively debate over the issues facing the city.''

Chick admitted she had been tempted to enter the mayor's race but usually only when she was angry with Hahn.

``I love my job,'' Chick said. ``People talk about me being politically ambitious, but I have turned down other opportunities. Being controller lets me look at the whole city and kick butt.''

Chick said her office has performed more than 60 audits since she was elected in 2001.

``Though it hasn't always been easy, we have begun to bring about change,'' she said.

Through her audits, Chick has prompted separate county and federal grand jury investigations of the contracting processes at the city's Airport, Harbor and Water and Power departments.

The audits were followed by the resignation this week of Airport Commission President Ted Stein and a recent shake-up of the mayor's office. Stein has denied any wrongdoing.

Chick said she is concerned the city is not doing enough to address its problems.

``It's almost like someone who is treading water,'' Chick said. ``There comes a time when you have to move forward or you sink. I just feel like we are still bogged down in red tape and using practices from the 1960s instead of being on the cutting edge.''

Rick Orlov, [phone]

rick.orlov(at)dailynews.com