MAYOR'S RACE REMAINS HEATED HAHN ON OFFENSE; NEW VILLARAIGOSA AD ON THE AIR TODAY.

Byline: Rick Orlov Staff Writer

Mayor James Hahn and City Councilman Antonio Villaraigosa clashed again Monday over their records as the mayoral challenger prepared to debut a new television commercial today.

The Villaraigosa campaign refused to provide details about its commercial, which kicks off the final phase of the election, now just three weeks away.

``We think now is the time to get to voters, that they will be starting to pay interest in the race,'' Villaraigosa campaign manager Ace Smith said. ``This is the start of what we will be doing through the end of the campaign.''

Hahn campaign officials said they had expected Villaraigosa to launch his commercial first, since he has raised more money since the March 8 primary.

``We will be on television, but later,'' said Hahn consultant Kam Kuwata. ``We expected to be outspent. In 2001, they spent $3 million more than us, and we were still able to win.''

Villaraigosa has been airing commercials on San Fernando Valley cable stations, with Controller Laura Chick and Councilman Bernard Parks talking about their endorsements of him. Smith said more endorsement commercials will be rolled out in the next several days.

Hahn held a news conference Monday at Cahuenga Elementary School in Koreatown, where he said voters should compare the candidates' accomplishments.

``I've been talking about my record of achievements, and I want to contrast that with his record of mismanagement,' Hahn said. ``Every day, you are going to see a contrast between someone who gets things done with someone who talks about it.''

Hahn criticized Villaraigosa's handling of the voter-approved Proposition 1A of 1998, which approved $9.8 billion for school construction. Hahn said it took a lawsuit by parents to force the state to provide more money for Los Angeles schools.

``Mr. Villaraigosa talks about it as if it was the crown jewel of his legislative achievements,'' Hahn said. ``It looks more like a cheap dime-store rhinestone.''

Hahn said Los Angeles received only $25 million during the first year of the measure, while more than $640 million went to suburban school districts, which were able to secure campus sites more easily than built-out districts like the Los Angeles Unified School District.

It wasn't until a court ordered the state to change its formula that Los Angeles was able to receive significant funding, Hahn said.

Smith disputed the mayor's stance.

``Jim Hahn should do his homework,'' Smith said. ``Had he checked his math, he would have realized that LAUSD has received more than $1.17 billion in funding - money made possible by the work of Antonio Villaraigosa.''

Rick Orlov, [phone]

rick.orlov(at)dailynews.com