TIPOFF HAHN LAUNCHES HIS CYBER-CAMPAIGN TO MIXED REVIEWS.

Byline: RICK ORLOV

If you think the recent rains have been heavy, it's nothing compared with what's been pouring from the campaigns of those running for mayor in the March 8 primary.

After a weeks-long delay, Mayor James Hahn finally unveiled his campaign Web page at www.jimhahn.org. As expected, his opponents didn't think much of it, and it drew mixed reviews among Internet political junkies.

Hahn's site stresses the major message of his campaign: His efforts to reduce crime.

``I'm fighting to make our streets safer and turn around our neighborhoods,'' Hahn says in his welcome to visitors.

``In the last three years, we've reversed a rising crime rate, put more police on our streets and are beginning to see results.''

The site also includes a section called ``What has Mayor Hahn done for my neighborhood?'' with a map showing the San Fernando Valley, West Los Angeles, Central Los Angeles, South Los Angeles, East Los Angeles and the Harbor area.

Some three dozen items - many of them dealing with crime, libraries or various public services - are listed for each area.

The Web site was dismissed by lavoice.org, a political Web log, as ``a stock campaign site mix of flackery, 'image' galleries, contact info and a handful of gimmes (donation requests). ... The site is handsomely designed, but otherwise devoid of any innovation or interactivity...''

The campaign for former Assembly Speaker Bob Hertzberg took note of how long it has taken the mayor to join the e-campaign world. A Hertzberg press release estimated that his www.changela.com site is expected to have more than 2 million hits by today.

Changes are under way - again - within the mayoral campaign of City Councilman Bernard Parks.

Parks is bringing aboard his third campaign manager, Jewett Walker, to replace Carol Butler, who came from Texas to help the campaign.

``We are going in a new direction now that the campaign has really started,'' Parks said. ``Carol helped me develop an overall strategy and prepare me for the debates. Now we have a new stage to deal with.''

That stage is money and organizing.

Parks said he hopes to have $700,000 to $800,000 in the bank by the time the campaign hits the final stretch and reports are filed on Jan. 27.

``Right now, the emphasis is all about raising money and doing grass- roots work,'' Parks said.

Councilman Antonio Villaraigosa found himself on the receiving end of criticism after he was endorsed last week by the Los Angeles League of Conservation Voters - a group that backed him in 2001.

Hahn's campaign put out a two-page list of all the environmental initiatives the mayor has undertaken - including driving a hybrid car in recent weeks.

Hertzberg also piled on, saying that Villaraigosa might have won the endorsement, but it is Hertzberg who ``is the only candidate with a proven record on the environment both as a legislator and a businessman.''

Among other things, he cites his founding of Solar Integrated Technologies, a South Los Angeles company that manufactures photovoltaic roofs and other solar energy devices.

Hahn's campaign has pointed out, however, that the firm received a loan from the city to get started.

All of the mayoral candidates could take a lesson from Los Angeles schools Superintendent Roy Romer, who has mastered the art of a proactive strike.

The former Colorado governor became the first among school officials to post a court-ordered notice that tells students about their rights and how they can file complaints.

Romer hung the notice on the wall of his office in the Beaudry building headquarters on the first day back after the New Year's holiday - the official date for compliance.

``I put one in my own office today,'' Romer told a visitor.

Schools were to post similar notices by the end of the week to comply with the court ruling that tells students and parents how they can complain about any unsafe or unsanitary conditions in the facilities.

Staff Writer Jennifer Radcliffe contributed to this report.

Rick Orlov, [phone]

rick.orlov(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1) HAHN

(2) HERTZBERG