COMMISSIONER MAYOR DUMPED CHOSEN FOR ETHICS PANEL.

Byline: Patrick McGreevy Daily News Staff Writer

In what some observers saw as a jab at Mayor Richard Riordan, Councilman Joel Wachs has appointed Art Mattox to the city Ethics Commission a few months after Riordan decided not to renew Mattox's term on the Police Commission.

Mattox lost his commission post after opposing Riordan's request to appoint Bernard Parks as interim police chief while the commission searched for a permanent chief.

Mattox instead voted to appoint Bayan Lewis as interim chief, although Parks later won the job for a five-year term.

Riordan denied publicly at the time that Mattox's independent position on Parks played a role in his decision not to renew Mattox for another term, but sources said Riordan was displeased with Mattox at the time.

Political consultant Joe Scott sees Wachs' decision to appoint Mattox as another sign of friction between the councilman and the mayor, who were once strong allies but strongly disagreed in recent months over Wachs' threat to block the construction of a downtown sports arena.

Scott said the appointment should be seen in the context of Wachs' plan to run for mayor in three years in a race that may also feature close Riordan adviser Steven Soboroff.

``I would characterize Wachs' move as another tiny payback and a clear signal that a would-be mayoral candidate is now unafraid to prick a lame-duck incumbent,'' said Scott, who was Riordan's campaign spokesman in 1993.

Scott noted that Riordan recently reacted angrily when Wachs enlisted former mayoral aide Mike Keeley to help draft a ballot measure requiring public votes on public subsidies of professional sports facilities.

Councilman Nate Holden said it is ironic that Wachs has appointed Mattox to an Ethics Commission seat that was a mayoral appointment until voters approved a charter amendment. The change lowered the mayor's appointments to the panel from two to one to reduce his influence.

Holden wondered what Wachs could gain by irritating the mayor. ``Joel should be extending an olive branch,'' he said.

Mayoral spokeswoman Noelia Rodriguez denied that there is a rift between Riordan and Wachs, and disputed that the mayor is bothered by the Mattox appointment.

``We're certainly not taking it that way,'' Rodriguez said. ``The mayor continues to have a working relationship with the councilman.''

However, one source close to Riordan said the mayor was disappointed by Wachs' appointment of Mattox to the Ethics Commission.

Greg Nelson, a spokesman for Wachs, denied that the councilman's intent was to jab at Riordan.

``That really had nothing to do with it,'' Nelson said.

In a statement, Wachs said he chose Mattox for his experience and independence.

``As a former police commissioner, Art has proven his independence, fairness and diligence,'' Wachs said. ``He is a person of impeccable integrity who has all of the qualities required for this important position.''

Mattox also made much of the independence issue.

``I'm thrilled to be selected by Councilman Wachs,'' he said. ``I've always tried to provide community service with the utmost integrity and independence.''

Mattox's appointment is made possible by the August resignation of Commissioner Ann Petroni, who had been appointed by Riordan but left the ethics panel when she moved out of Los Angeles.

Mattox is a resident of Eagle Rock and an executive with the Xerox Corp., working out of the company's Woodland Hills office.

He was the first openly gay member of the Police Commission, serving on that panel for four years.

If the appointment is confirmed by the City Council, Mattox would serve the remainder of Petroni's term, which expires June 30, 1999.