MAYOR SEEKS SAY ON SELECTION OF ROMER SUCCESSOR.

Byline: Rachel Uranga Staff Writer

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said Monday he wants to have a say in the selection of a new LAUSD superintendent after word surfaced embattled incumbent Roy Romer would be willing to step down before his contract expires.

Romer told board members last month that he would leave his $250,000 a year post as soon as they found a replacement, according to district officials. His contract doesn't expire until June 2007.

But his offer is likely to set off intense campaigning and infighting as unions, parent advocates and even millionaires push their own candidate.

Already Villaraigosa, who has vowed to put the issue of mayoral control on the 2007 or 2008 state ballot, said that he is looking for a reform-minded candidate who will push the issue of a school dropout rate and further raise achievement scores.

``My hope is that whoever is the next superintendent is going to be a partner with the city of Los Angeles,'' he said.

Romer, who is facing mounting criticism for the school district's poor academic record and takeover bid by Villaraigosa, showed a decided change of direction after earlier assurances that he would serve out his contract.

He was on vacation and not available for comment, but district spokeswoman Stephanie Brady said the 77-year-old administrator's decision was ``personal'' and was no secret within the district. Romer has offered to work as long as the district would like him to and until a replacement is securely in place.

For months, the board has been planning the costly and lengthy superintendent selection process in closed-door meetings, said Marlene Canter, board president. And Romer's offer merely came up amid these talks to help ease the transition, she said. It was not in response to pressure by Villaraigosa who had recently begun meeting with Romer over the high dropout rate and school governance. And it would allow the district to stop paying Romer's salary when he stops working.

``Our focus right now is finding a bold, reform-minded superintendent with great leadership skills to stand on the shoulders of Roy Romer's (legacy),'' Canter said.

But the move could provide an opening for Villaraigosa, said Jaime Regalado, director of the Edmund G. ``Pat'' Brown Institute of Public Affairs.

``It is still going to be a big fight. Most of the major competing interest groups, the unions, the board are allied against what the mayor wants. The wild card will be the parents groups,'' Regalado said.

The board must still find a head hunting firm before it can begin a lengthy process of public hearings.

``Who the district hires will be a key of how we move in the future,'' said A.J. Duffy, union president for the districts 48,000 teachers and health workers.

``I have the utmost respect for Romer. He presided over the district for five years while test scores have gone up dramatically, in some cases higher than the state average and he will have have presided over the building of 160 schools by 2012.''

Rachel Uranga, [phone]

rachel.uranga(at)dailynews.com