TIPOFF : RIORDAN PLAYS GAME ON BOTH SIDES OF FENCE.

Byline: RICK ORLOV

FOR someone who sneers at the word ``politician,'' Mayor Richard Riordan is playing the game fairly well these days, much to the consternation of his fellow Republicans.

A recent lobbying trip to Washington, D.C., to get more funds for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority was an unqualified success when Congress appropriated the $62 million the mayor had sought.

And he's playing the insider game as well.

Riordan recently hosted a fund-raiser at his Brentwood home for the Assembly GOP Caucus, with Republicans saying it helped raise a substantial sum.

But then the mayor turned around and hosted a similar event for the Assembly Democrats that also took in considerable funds.

And then Riordan again angered Republicans last week when he endorsed Democrat Bill Lockyer for attorney general right after backing Republican Randy Hoffman for Congress against incumbent Democrat Brad Sherman.

``What can I say?'' one GOP official said. ``That's Riordan. He has his own agenda. That's why a lot of us consider him a Republican in name only.''

Another smart cookie who is developing in state and local politics is Assemblyman Bob Hertzberg, D-Van Nuys.

Hertzberg recently held a major Democratic fund-raiser - attended by Riordan, of course - at the Disney Studios, where 400 people contributed $500 each.

But with only light opposition in the Nov. 3 election, Hertzberg has given $500,000 to the Assembly Democratic Caucus to help other candidates. That makes him the biggest contributor to the caucus by far, with the next-closest being $300,000.

California Democrats have started their get-out-the-vote efforts, emphasizing Latinos who have registered since 1994 and the secret weapon they are counting on to generate enthusiasm: Gov. Pete Wilson.

``All we have to do is show a picture of Wilson, and we get an immediate impact,'' state party Chairman Art Torres said last week.

Of course, the Republican governor is being used as a tool by the Democrats because of his support for measures such as Proposition 187 on illegal immigration, Proposition 209 on affirmative action and Proposition 227 on bilingual education.

``He is better than (House Speaker) Newt Gingrich and (GOP gubernatorial candidate) Dan Lungren combined,'' Torres said. ``No one knows what those two look like, but they all know Wilson.''

Lungren has recognized this during the course of his campaign, making numerous appearances in minority communities where Republicans haven't been for decades and distancing himself from Wilson.

MEDIA WATCH: Who was that masked man out in the Valley recently, meeting with leaders of the secession study and charter reform efforts? None other than Los Angeles Times Publisher Mark Willes.

Willes invited the folks involved in both efforts to lobby for support of the Los Angeles Business Advisors' proposal to expand the City Council to 35 members and do away with the concept of those pesky neighborhood councils.

Among those in attendance at the Pinot Bistro Cafe in Studio City were Richard Close and Jeff Brain of Valley Voters Organized Toward Empowerment, attorney David Fleming of the charter reform movement and Bonnie Herman of the Valley Industry and Commerce Association.

``I don't think anyone's views were changed, but it was important for him to hear our reasons, and it was helpful to us to hear his reasons for expanding the City Council,'' Close said diplomatically.

But others said the session was a waste of time.

``His response was remote,'' said one participant, asking not to be identified. ``I didn't think he could walk the walk and understand our Valley problems when he and others live in places like San Marino or La Canada. They have local input already. That's what we want.''