RAPPER, BACA TEAM TO PASS COP SALES TAX WON-G COLLECTING SIGNATURES.

Byline: Dana Bartholomew Staff Writer

Sheriff Lee Baca has found an unexpected ally to support his half-cent public-safety sales tax initiative - a Haitian-born rap singer with a fleet of SUVs.

Won-G, a faith-based rapper with a $250,000 Elvis watch and penchant for fur coats and Rolls-Royces, has promised to collect 200,000 signatures needed to place the tax hike on the November ballot.

``I plan to hit the streets with my Haiti Boys Street Team - a lot of 'em rappers, a lot of 'em promoters - in 28 Ford Excursions with 27-inch wheels,'' said Won-G, 25, of Bel-Air, a buff performer with a bad-boy look.

``It's about the half-cent sales tax. It's about getting more cops on the street.''

To collect the required signatures, Won-G - born Wondge Bruny - has partnered with the cast of ``DHS,'' an upcoming TV series from Trinity Broadcasting Network about the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's battle against terrorism.

The coalition, co-chaired by Los Angeles Councilman Antonio Villaraigosa, plans to announce its campaign this week at the former Hanna-Barbera Studios building in Universal City.

Baca, who faces an uphill battle for his Public Safety Homeland Security and Local Anti-terrorism Sales Tax Initiative, said he welcomes Won-G's cavalry of sport utility vehicles.

The Excursions, the largest SUVs on the street, will be plastered with decals of the tattooed rapper, along with Allison Waterbury, the lead actress on ``DHS,'' and Baca, head of America's largest sheriff's department.

``Pictures belie personality,'' said Baca, who had high-fived Won-G earlier this month at his Monterey Park headquarters. ``He's a faith-based hip-hop star. No vulgarity. No anti-public safety ... There's nothing in his work that's bad boy.

``This is about patriotism ... .''

Baca, whose force is down 1,100 deputies and whose budget has been slashed $166 million in two years, announced the sales tax campaign last fall to pay for sweeping improvements to law enforcement.

If approved, the sales tax boost would generate $500 million a year - a third for the Sheriff's Department, a third for the Los Angeles Police Department and a third to be divided among the county's remaining law- enforcement agencies.

Allison, a self-proclaimed Sophia Loren look-alike with four young daughters, said she'll also hit the streets each week collecting signatures.

``This is L.A., one of the biggest money-making cities in the nation,`' said the Bel-Air actress. ``If we let (this shortfall) happen to law enforcement ... I can't imagine what will happen to our neighborhoods.''

Won-G is the eldest of 11 children and is the son of a top general of exiled Haitian dictator Jean Claude ``Baby Doc'' Duvalier. He can rap in English, French, Creole and Spanish.

In addition to selling 1.2 million CDs on the street with his SUVs, the rapper also known as The Haiti Boy sells albums, such as ``Do it Won-G, Do it,'' in Wal-Mart and said he just signed a $35 million contract with Universal Records.

He said each SUV manned by six of his team members will patrol Wal- Marts, movie theaters and record stores collecting 5,000 signatures a day for the sheriff's anti-gangsta campaign.

``I know what the American dream is about,'' said Won-G, who began rapping as a boy in Flatbush, Brooklyn. ``It's about what you give, not what you take ... somewhere along the line, karma will take care of you.''

Dana Bartholomew, [phone]

dana.bartholomew(at)dailynews.com

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Haitian rapper Won-G and his friends will be hitting the streets in a flock of SUVs to back Sheriff Lee Baca's tax initiative.