MAYOR BACKS AWARDING OF AIRPORT DEALS HAHN CONFIDENT THERE WERE NO IMPROPRIETIES IN PACTS.

Byline: Rick Orlov and Beth Barrett Staff Writers

Mayor James Hahn voiced confidence Tuesday that there had been no wrongdoing by the city's Airport Commission despite a critical report from Controller Laura Chick on how contracts were awarded at the agency.

During his monthly ``Ask the Mayor'' radio show on KFWB-AM (980), Hahn said he had questioned his top appointee to the commission, President Ted Stein, and had been assured there were no fund-raising improprieties.

``I've had several conversations with the president of the Airport Commission about this issue,'' Hahn said. ``He was absolutely adamant that he does not request contributions from people who do business at the airport.

``He does ask other people, from time to time, to support me, but he has been adamant that he has not asked anyone who is doing business with the airport.''

The mayor added: ``I didn't find any evidence of wrongdoing in the controller's report. But every allegation ought to be investigated. We want to make sure all contracts are awarded properly ... that people follow the law. It's important to have an open and public process, and we have to make sure decisions are made on their merits.''

Chick released a scathing report Monday that questioned whether airport commissioners improperly reviewed contracts before they were awarded. As part of her findings, she asked federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to look into rumors of a ``pay-to-play'' system at the department.

Chick turned over the results of her preliminary investigation to District Attorney Steve Cooley in October. His office has begun a preliminary inquiry into whether there were improprieties by airport commissioners.

Stein did not return repeated phone calls, but has denied in a statement any wrongdoing.

Stein did respond to auditors with Sjoberg Evashenk Consulting in a Nov. 6 letter, defending commissioners' participation on review panels, and other selection practices by citing a City Attorney's opinion and board policies.

He also told auditors that selection panel members comply with proper procedures in rating contractors, adding the city's charter doesn't require rating sheets with scoring.

``Let me say it would appear from the nature and tone of your questions that you have not spent sufficient time with the LAWA management team,'' Stein wrote. ``I think many of the observations cited are without merit and paint a false picture of how contracting business is done at the city's airports.''

Hahn also said he welcomed any inquiry as City Councilman Tony Cardenas announced he plans to look into the activities at the Department of Airports, as well as the Water and Power and Harbor departments.

``I think that as soon as we can, after the first of the year, we have to look at a number of things going on in these departments,'' said Cardenas, who chairs the council's Commerce, Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

``I am not convinced they have been getting the attention or oversight that they should have in the past.''

Chick said she welcomed the Cardenas review and hoped his and another review expected by Councilwoman Wendy Greuel and the council's Audit Committee would lead to changes in city policies.

``I'm thrilled we are seeing action so quickly to try to deal with some of the problems we are seeing,'' Chick said.

Rick Orlov, [phone]

rick.orlov(at)dailynews.com