RIORDAN'S DEADLINE; MUST DECIDE FUTURE TODAY.

Byline: Rick Orlov Daily News Staff Writer

If Mayor Richard Riordan declares himself a candidate for governor today, Los Angeles will be left with a part-time or unelected mayor for as long as 18 months - a critical time for charter reform, secession and other important issues.

Today is the last day for Riordan to take out an official declaration to run for the Republican nomination against Attorney General Dan Lungren and aides and allies are coy about whether he will run.

One clue is that Riordan has been on a lobbying trip to the nation's capital and is not due back until Thursday. It would be odd - but not impossible - for the mayor of Los Angeles to declare himself a candidate for California governor in Washington, D.C.

The prospect that he will make the campaign has many people worried about what it would do to the city as it debates a number of topics - many of which were fostered by Riordan - and if he is diverted from city issues.

``What concerns me, though, is he won't be around for the debate on the future of Los Angeles - a debate he started,'' said Jeff Brain, co-chairman of Valley Voters Organized Toward Empowerment, the group organizing the secession drive.

The primary election is June 3 with the general election in November so Riordan would be serving part time and looking at city issues in the context of his gubernatorial campaign for up to nine months.

If he won, a special election for mayor would be held in April 1999 with the runoff in June 1999 - meaning the city could be virtually leaderless for 18 months.

Riordan spokeswoman Noelia Rodriguez said the mayor believes he would be able to remain active as mayor while waging a full-bore campaign.

``Quite simply, the mayor will focus on everything the way he knows how,'' Rodriguez said. ``His primary concern is the betterment of the city. It would be a different sort of energy. He would still be the mayor of the city and do everything in his power on behalf of Los Angeles.

``He's been through one campaign and was still able to do his job as mayor,'' Rodriguez said.

However, in his race last year against state Sen. Tom Hayden, D-Los Angeles, Riordan did not really hit the campaign trail until the final two weeks, protesting that the press of work kept him from campaigning or debating his opponent.

The concern about the rigors of a statewide campaign comes as the city faces a number of issues, including reform, secession, airport expansion, the Alameda Corridor and the failures of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the Los Angeles Unified School District.

``Our concern, increasingly, is on what happens after the mayor is gone,'' said Brain. ``With term limits, he'll be gone in a few years and if he runs for governor, he could be gone this year and we don't know if the next mayor will be as concerned with the Valley.''

Democratic political consultant Richard Lichtenstein said Riordan would face questions about leaving so many issues unresolved.

``He is going to be subject to scrutiny as to why those aren't complete,'' Lichtenstein said. ``That's the politics of it.''

He said what's more important would be the lack of the mayor's full force and impact in resolving those unfinished issues.

Richard Close, a Valley VOTE co-chairman and president of the Sherman Oaks Homeowners Association, agreed a Riordan candidacy would be unsettling.

``He is perceived as being good for the Valley and there would be a lot of uncertainty about what lies ahead if he runs and wins,'' Close said. ``The good news would be having a governor from Los Angeles, but then we won't know who the next mayor is.''

Some political experts said Riordan could campaign and be mayor.

``We've got a weak mayor system,'' said GOP consultant Allan Hoffenblum. ``If there's one mayor in this country who can afford to run up and down the state to run for governor, it's Dick Riordan.''

Democratic consultant Joe Cerrell said agreed, saying: ``It's not different than any other politician who runs for higher office. His staff will work a little bit harder.''

City Council President John Ferraro, who would serve as acting mayor when Riordan was away, said the city would continue to operate as it has in the past.

``The day-to-day running of government will continue and I'm sure the mayor will devote as much time as he can,'' Ferraro said.

Ferraro predicted that the council would not appoint a full-time mayor to serve out Riordan's term.

``The City Charter doesn't let any elected city official take another job in the city until their term is over,'' Ferraro said. ``And I'm sure we wouldn't appoint anyone else.''

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Photo

PHOTO Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., meets with Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan in Washington, D.C.

Associated Press