EDITORIAL PRAISING PADILLA COUNCIL'S TRIBUTE WAS MUCH ADO ABOUT NOT MUCH.

THERE was enough hot air wafting out of the John Ferraro Council Chambers to warm up the chilly halls of Los Angeles City Hall on Tuesday. The occasion was a prolonged tribute to Councilman Alex Padilla, who not-so-willingly turned over the presidency of the council to Eric Garcetti several weeks ago.

Although the meeting started on time - thanks to the decree by Garcetti that tardiness is no longer condoned now that he's in charge - the first hour and a half was devoted to ego-flattering presentations, including one in which West Valley Councilman Dennis Zine got an honorary membership in a ladies' social club.

Then, for about an hour, council members took turns piling on their fond memories of Padilla - the youngest person to hold the top council spot. The accolades included his public appearances right after the 9-11 attacks and his humble beginnings in the Northeast San Fernando Valley. Forget that there were members of the public forced to sit through the endless praises of Padilla, a young man with ambitions for higher office.

While Padilla is an honorable enough fellow and worthy of some praise, the over-the-top display of congratulatory sentiment revealed the high esteem in which council members hold themselves and, conversely, the lack of regard they have for the public, which has gotten so little back from the nation's highest-paid municipal officials over the years. This is the kind of presentation better left to farewell parties at the Biltmore or perhaps oratory at a funeral.

Apart from the fact that the council under Padilla's leadership accomplished no more for the public benefit than it did under the lackluster leadership of his predecessors, the oddest aspect of the affair was its prematurity. Padilla's not going anywhere. At least not yet. He and his council colleagues seem a tad overconfident about Padilla's besting of Assemblywoman San Fernando Cindy Montaez in the California Senate District 20 race next June.

If he loses, he will be hanging around City Hall at least another year. If he wins, we can expect a tribute that might last through the night. Now that's something to look forward to.