TIPOFF BREWER'S NOT SUITED (UP) FOR LOS ANGELES' BRAND OF POLITICS.

Byline: RICK ORLOV

The ``Oh my God, what have I done?'' moment came for Adm. David Brewer III, appropriately enough, on Friday the 13th -- the day he was introduced as the newest superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District.

``I thought that when I came into that (news conference) room and saw all those cameras,'' Brewer said last week. ``Someone said to me I was dressed nice, and all I could think of was that I only have four suits. I'm going to need to get me some more clothes.''

That was the last bit of doubt -- or at least the last moment to reflect on what he is getting into -- for Brewer, who has been on a nonstop tour of the city to meet with power brokers, city opinion leaders, teachers and parents.

One thing Brewer said he is learning rapidly is that Los Angeles politics are more intense than he had imagined.

``I used to say that politics is a contact sport in three places -- New York City, Chicago and Texas. I think I have to add a fourth now,'' Brewer said.

As far as partisan politics, Brewer said he is neither a Democrat nor a Republican, and is following the advice of former Secretary of State Colin Powell.

``General Powell often said that command staff should be registered as independent so they are not tied to any one political party,'' Brewer said.

While Brewer is learning local politics, he admitted he has had trouble following state issues. He also highlighted one of the problems that Democratic gubernatorial candidate Phil Angelides has in trying to unseat Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

``I haven't really followed (the race). Who's running? Someone named Angelenus?'' Brewer said. ``Of course, I know about Schwarzenegger. He's the Terminator. Everyone knows him.''

That's precisely one of Angelides' problems.

As Brewer has been able to bask in the honeymoon glow of his appointment, local officials are not forgetting the indelible stamp made on the district by outgoing Superintendent Roy Romer.

Romer, the former governor of Colorado, took on the job five years ago and oversaw a massive school-building program as he also tried to bring about educational reform.

Last week, Romer was saluted at a dinner hosted by billionaire Eli Broad. It was Broad and former Mayor Richard Riordan who convinced Romer to take the superintendent's job.

``There were a lot of lighthearted moments,'' said former Mayor James Hahn, who attended the event. ``Riordan kept going around apologizing to Romer for forcing him to take the job.''

Hahn said Broad also provided some unintended humor as he was introducing the dignitaries on hand.

Broad noted that Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa -- who has been at odds with Romer and district officials for the past year -- couldn't attend the event ``because he had several conflicts.''

It's the time of the year to be very, very afraid.

Not because of Halloween ghouls and ghosts and pranksters. But because it's the last chance for politicians to tie up your phone, clog your mailbox and saturate the airwaves with their pitches for your votes.

The frenzy seems particularly high this year, given that so many legislative races are aleady decided and, to be honest, it is hard to generate much enthusiasm over any of the initiative campaigns.

The biggest question this year may be whether anyone turns out to vote.

Election officials say it will likely be one of the lowest turnouts in a gubernatorial election.

Based on requests for absentee ballots -- an indicator of overall turnout -- most experts say less than 40 percent of voters will weigh in.

rick.orlov(at)dailynews.com

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