FIELD IN 5TH NOT WILD ABOUT PARKS HALF OF CANDIDATES WOULDN'T RENEW CONTRACT.

Byline: Rick Orlov Staff Writer

STUDIO CITY - Adding to the political pressure on Police Chief Bernard C. Parks, five of the 10 candidates running for one of the most politically active City Council seats in Los Angeles said Friday that they would oppose renewing his contract next year.

And none of the remaining contenders in the April 10 election for the 5th Council District offered an endorsement of the chief at the candidates forum sponsored by the Valley Industry and Commerce Association.

Candidates Jill Barad, Joe Connolly, Ken Gerston, Laura Lake and Robyn Ritter Simon each said they would not approve a renewal of Parks' contract - joining three leading mayoral candidates in saying they would oppose a second five-year term for the embattled Parks.

Parks has refused to comment on the political dialogue over his tenure, saying in an interview last month that he would not seek to renew his contract if the next mayor wants him to step aside.

The other council candidates - Tom Hayden, Constantina Milonopoulos, Steve Saltzman, Victor Viereck and Jack Weiss - said they would want to hold off on a decision until Parks' contract is up in 2002.

``I don't think it is a good thing to have a new chief of police every few years,'' said Hayden, a former state senator.

Milonopoulos and Viereck said they saw many of the problems facing the Los Angeles Police Department coming because of the lack of proper oversight by the mayor and City Council.

Connolly said he has been calling for Parks to be removed for several months because of rising crime.

``We have officers out there who aren't doing the job,'' Connolly said. ``They aren't doing what they are supposed to in fighting crime.''

Simon and Barad said they believe the problems facing the department, primarily as a result of the Rampart Division case and the federal consent decree, have hampered the ability of Parks to run the agency.

``We need to find a replacement,'' Simon said. ``We need to do a better job.''

Barad said she wanted Parks removed because of his resistance to community-based policing, including a return of the senior lead officer program.

Where the 10 did agree was on the efforts to create a new city in the San Fernando Valley.

While none said he or she would vote for such a breakup, all said they will support the right to place the measure before voters.

``I don't think a case has been made yet for secession,'' Weiss said. ``But I think we should look at the study, make sure there is no foot-dragging and it is honest. But, I do love the city and want to keep it together.''