RIORDAN NAMES CHOICES TO FILL INFORMATION POSTS.

Byline: Rick Orlov Staff Writer

Two months after a majority of its commissioners resigned, Mayor Richard Riordan moved on Thursday to fill three vacancies on the Information Technology Commission.

Riordan announced the nominations of Susan R. Laris, Samuel Lopez Jr. and Sharon Rubalcava to fill out the terms of three commissioners who resigned in a dispute with him over the city's policy on high-speed Internet access through cable television lines.

``(The three) possess the knowledge, experience and leadership skills to successfully serve our city as ITA commissioners,'' Riordan said. ``As the capital city of the 21st Century at the cutting edge of information technology, Los Angeles needs strong leaders . . . (to) ensure that Angelenos are receiving quality services at just rates.''

After former ITA commissioners Alan Arkatov, Joyce Emerson and Bob Duggan resigned, the City Council took charge of the issue of public access through cable modems.

Riordan has recused himself from the issue because his wife owns stock in America Online. But earlier, he said he favors an approach that allows cable companies to control access, which is contrary to the open-access policy favored by AOL and a number of other companies.

Laris is the founder and president of the weekly Downtown News and serves on the boards of the Central City Association, the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce and the Los Angeles Visitors and Convention Bureau.

Lopez is a product supervisor for J.D. Power and Associates, responsible for the development of new Internet-based software applications. He managed the Internet Web site for Councilman Nick Pacheco during his recent campaign.

Rubalcava is a partner at the legal firm of McClintock, Weston, Benshoof, Rochefort, Rubalcava and MacCuish. She specializes in environmental law.