MAYORAL RIVALS TALK POWER, ENDORSEMENTS.

Byline: Rick Orlov and Harrison Sheppard Staff Writers

Monday was a day of energy, economy and endorsements for the leading candidates for mayor of Los Angeles, with the April 10 election two weeks away.

Businessman Steve Soboroff said one of the first acts he would take if elected mayor is to target the biotech and biomedicine industries for growth and ensure the city takes steps to keep the industries.

``Without question, Los Angeles has the potential to become an industry leader in biotech and biomed,'' Soboroff said at a news conference in front of MiniMed Corp. in Northridge.

Citing the research work of UCLA and USC academicians, Soboroff said he believes the city should be at the forefront of the industry and fight off other areas trying to lure companies away.

At the same time, Soboroff said the city should do its best to attract other biotech companies by offering a research and development tax credit program.

Rep. Xavier Becerra unveiled an energy conservation plan that includes offering rebates to customers who cut usage by at least 10 percent.

Although the Department of Water and Power has been immune from the power crisis gripping the state, it sells its excess electricity to the state power grid, helping power-starved areas served by the investor-owned utilities.

If elected, Becerra said he would push for residents to reduce power use by 10 percent to 20 percent. He would then take the profits from selling that energy and split it between reducing DWP debt, and providing rebates to ratepayers based on a tiered system giving larger rebates as they save more.

``If we conserve as a city, we will be able to sell even more power to other parts of the state in crisis - helping them out as good neighbors, paying down our DWP debt more quickly, and rewarding customers who make conservation efforts,'' Becerra said.

Also on Monday, former Assembly Speaker Antonio Villaraigosa formally picked up the endorsement of Supervisor Gloria Molina and was feted as the International Humanitarian of the Year by the Israel Humanitarian Foundation.

City Attorney James Hahn was endorsed by more than 100 Asian Pacific-American community leaders.

``Jim Hahn has demonstrated over 20 years of leadership,'' said former Harbor Commissioner Leland Wong. ``He has the ability to serve as a very strong bridge builder and bring people together.''

Hahn said it is important for the next mayor to be able to reach out to different groups.

``To lead this city, the next mayor will have to work tirelessly to build bridges of understanding between every part of our city to effectively address our biggest challenges from education to public safety to economic development,'' Hahn said.