LUDLOW GETTING A HAND TONIGHT LEADERS TO HELP PAY HIS LEGAL BILLS.

Byline: TROY ANDERSON Staff Writer

Some of Los Angeles' most respected civic leaders are hosting a controversial fundraiser tonight to help pay the legal fees of Martin Ludlow, the former City Councilman and Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, leader who pleaded guilty this year to serious ethics violations.

Ludlow admitted to a federal judge in March that he knew he was breaking the law when he conspired with a labor leader to funnel union resources to his 2003 City Council election campaign.

He has been placed on probation and ordered to pay more than $180,000 in fines and restitution for his role in the scandal.

An invitation to the dinner to support the Martin Ludlow Legal Defense Fund portrays Martin and Kimberly Ludlow as having ``courageously dealt with tremendous legal and professional challenges'' costing hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines and legal expenses.

``Now, admitting to a mistake in judgment during his primary election campaign in 2003, he has sustained three levels of government prosecution simultaneously,'' the invitation says. ``Throughout this process we salute Martin for standing up publicly, admitting his mistakes and blaming no one else.

``We know the true character of a man reveals itself in times of controversy. We're proud of the manner in which he has handled this.''

Dinner donations start at $500 and range to $4,000 for the event at a Holmby Hills estate.

It notes a who's who ``reception committee'' that includes actor Danny Glover, civil rights attorney Connie Rice, Police Commission chief John Mack, former Police Commission chief David Cunningham III, City Councilman Herb Wesson, Senator-elect Mark Ridley-Thomas, U.S. Rep. Diane E. Watson, D-Los Angeles, and Assemblywoman Karen Bass, D-Los Angeles.

The controversy over the event was first reported Thursday by David Zahniser in the L.A. Weekly.

The event drew questions from some experts even as Los Angeles seeks to toughen its ethics policies and restore public faith in the wake of previous city scandals.

``I'm always concerned when elected officials are raising money,'' said Bob Stern, president of the Center for Governmental Studies in Los Angeles. ``I'm less concerned about Connie Rice and John Mack. But elected officials can oversee contracts and make decisions affecting people. The question is, how much arm-twisting are they doing to get people to contribute to this. And, of course, the contributions are much higher than what can be given to a City Council member.''

The invitation notes that Ludlow, 41, was the first African-American to serve as secretary-treasurer of the County Federation of Labor. It also notes that he served as deputy chief of staff to Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa when he was Assembly speaker, field director for former Gov. Gray Davis' campaign for governor, Florida field consultant to Al Gore's campaign for president and spent two years on the City Council.

Ludlow left the City Council last year to lead the Federation of Labor after the unexpected death of longtime labor leader Miguel Contreras.

But he resigned from the federation in February amid the investigation into his election campaign.

Watson's spokesman, Bert Hammond, said the congresswoman has supported Ludlow in the past and she agreed when he asked for her permission to use her name on the invitation.

``He admitted his guilt, paid his price and she does not believe in knocking a friend who was down, and she remains his friend,'' Hammond said.

Cunningham said Rice asked him to serve as a host and he agreed because Ludlow acknowledged the mistake he made. ``He is looked upon in the community, certainly among young people, as somewhat of a role model,'' Cunningham said. ``I thought his potential for rehabilitation is great. I've seen him have a strong impact on the youth in the African-American community.''

Rice, Mack, Wesson and Bass could not be reached for comment. Ludlow did not return a call seeking comment.

Deputy District Attorney Max Huntsman said the invitation downplays what Ludlow did.

``In fact, what he did was corruption,'' Huntsman said. ``He stole money. Workers worked for that money and it was taken from them under false pretenses. Through false pretenses, that money was used for his personal benefit so he could get elected to a job he was seeking.

``And when that union inquired what happened, he participated in a cover- up to hide where the money went. It's very much a case of corruption.''

Prosecutors accused Ludlow of conspiring with Janett Humphries, former head of Service Employees International Union Local 99, to use union resources to bolster his primary campaign in 2003.

The pair allegedly fabricated documents to try to cover up the scheme but it was ultimately uncovered by union accountants after Humphries was ousted from her post. Humphries has pleaded not guilty in both state and federal court.

troy.anderson(at)dailynews.com

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