PROP. R LANGUAGE TO BE ADDRESSED.

Byline: KERRY CAVANAUGH Staff Writer

An appellate court will hear arguments today on a proposal to change the ballot language for Los Angeles' ethics-reform/term-limits package to specifically say the measure would ``lengthen'' the time City Council members could be in office.

Opponents have argued that the title chosen by the City Council is vague and doesn't clearly indicate whether Proposition R would lengthen or shorten term limits.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Robert O'Brien agreed that the language was unclear, and ordered the city to specify that Proposition R would ``lengthen'' the council's tenure to three terms, up from the current two.

City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo appealed O'Brien's decision late Friday to the 2nd District Court of Appeals -- the same appellate court that overturned O'Brien's ruling that Proposition R is unconstitutional. The decision by the three-judge panel placed the measure back on the Nov. 7 ballot.

``We look forward to defending the measure and defending the City Council-drafted language,'' said Nick Velasquez, a spokesman for the city attorney.

Jeff Jacobberger, an attorney and member of the Not PropR campaign, called the council's argument self-serving.

``The very City Council members who selected the ballot title are the exact same people who stand to gain the real, concrete benefit if the ballot measure passes,'' Jacobberger said. ``They're in a situation of temptation to act in their own self-interest so they shouldn't be given deference.''

The court is expected to rule quickly, as the county's election chief has said that today is the deadline for making minor changes in ballot language.

Despite court challenges, Proposition R will appear on the Nov. 7 ballot.

However, the 2nd District Court of Appeals will consider Oct. 3 whether the measure to extend term limits and change lobbyist and campaign finance disclosures violates the state constitution requirement that ballot measures only address one subject.

If the appellate court decides Proposition R is illegal, it could order the county to not count the votes.