TIPOFF : CHICANERY, STUNTS MARK MAYORAL RACE.

Byline: Rick Orlov

IF nothing else, this year's race for mayor has provided ample grist for stupid political tricks.

Stupid Trick No. 1: In an effort to try to trump up an issue about state Sen. Tom Hayden's attendance record, campaign aides for Mayor Richard Riordan visited Hayden's headquarters last week with a one-way bus ticket to Sacramento.

Along with it, they provided a map to the state Capitol in case Hayden had forgotten his way. The Hayden campaign's response: ``Let's get real and try to deal with real issues. This is like guerrilla theater. That's nothing new for Tom.''

Stupid Trick No. 2: Hayden has been assiduously courting every Democratic organization he can for endorsements, but fell short last week when he wasn't able to get the two-thirds vote needed to win the backing of the Young Democrats of Los Angeles County.

An enraged Hayden staffer accused the group of violating its charter and threatened to go to county and state party officials to have its certification removed.

However, that was dropped when the campaign realized it might cause more harm than good. Besides, the failure to endorse Hayden didn't mean the group was backing Riordan, a lifelong Republican.

California Republicans are meeting this weekend in Sacramento and, by all accounts, it will be with a mind-set toward creating a kinder, gentler party.

Party Chairman Mike Schroeder says he wants to soften the GOP's image, particularly when it comes to trying to reach out to Latino voters.

Latinos have run away from the party in droves following two successive statewide campaigns where they felt targeted by GOP candidates on Propositions 187 and 209.

Other officials also are downplaying any controversy at the gathering.

Even aides to Gov. Pete Wilson, who has frequently been at odds with party regulars, say a speech by the low-key governor will be even more staid than usual.

``Lower your expectations,'' Wilson aides are telling reporters.

Members of the House of Representatives apparently are planning to follow the Rodney King, ``Can't we all get along?'' philosophy.

Concerned about the lack of civility that has marked the House over the past several years, House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt, D-Mo., said last week that some touchy-feely sessions are being planned in a retreat for House members.

Funded with a grant from the Pew Charitable Trust, a number of congressmen and their spouses are heading for a weekend session in Hershey, Pa., to discuss how they can improve relations and respect for one another.

``It's not like the old days,'' Gephardt said. ``There was a time when you could argue all you wanted on the floor, but still get along privately. That doesn't happen much anymore.''

MEDIA WATCH: They're calling it the St. Valentine's Day massacre over at Times-Mirror Square with the reorganization of its top editorial brass Feb. 14.

Chief among the victims were Senior Editor Carol Stogsdill and Associate Editor Narda Zacchino, both of whom saw their duties severely limited.

The bloodletting did not come easy and involved more than two days of sometimes teary behind-the-scenes negotiations between the two and editor Shelby Coffey III.

However, the most humiliating part came when Stogsdill and Zacchino were forced to read to the entire newsroom the announcement of their new assignments.