EDITORIAL COOLEY FOR D.A.

FOR the political health of Los Angeles, there really is no choice on March 2 but to re-elect Steve Cooley as the county's district attorney.

Cooley is in the middle of one of the most important investigations in this city's recent history - the scent of corruption unknown in Los Angeles since the 1930s. Flushed with the success of rooting out and getting convictions for corruption in Compton and South Gate, Cooley this year turned the power of his office on the ``pay-to-play'' culture at Los Angeles City Hall.

Using the power of a grand jury, Cooley has subpoenaed commissioners, contractors, city officials and even members of Mayor James Hahn's inner circle as he looks for evidence of a link between fund-raising and campaign donations. At the same time, the U.S. Department of Justice has launched its own investigation of city contracting practices.

Cooley has set the bar high by going after corruption in contracting, an elusive line that most professional politicians have learned to get around. No one will fare worse than Cooley if the investigation fizzles. However, if his office succeeds in bringing down the house of cards, the benefits for Angelenos will be huge.

A change in leadership of the District Attorney's Office would threaten the success of this investigation. There's too much at stake for voters to allow that to happen. We urge voters to support cleaning up government by re-electing Cooley.