TIPOFF MAYORAL RACE TURNS FROM NASTY TO NICE - AT LEAST FOR NOW.

Byline: RICK ORLOV

Just when it appeared we were headed for a seven-week clash of the mayoral candidates that would rival WrestleMania, it has turned into a contest of ``Who loves you, baby?''

Mayor James Hahn and Councilman Antonio Villaraigosa - after their sometimes harsh debate at CSUN last Monday - turned all squishy and nice for most of the week as they picked up a range of endorsements.

Hahn picked up support from former Councilman Nate Holden and Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich, while Villaraigosa trumped him with former Mayor Richard Riordan and San Fernando Valley homeowners. The two big endorsers from the primary election, Councilman Bernard Parks and former Speaker Bob Hertzberg, could weigh in this week.

Many of Villaraigosa's endorsements have come from those who once supported Hahn and have defected for basically three reasons, City Hall watchers have noted.

The trio of categories - those upset with Hahn over LAX modernization, those upset with Hahn over the firing of Parks as police chief, and those upset with Hahn over secession - form kind of a trifecta of anti-Hahndom.

The election also has provided some uncomfortable moments for Villaraigosa and raised one of those issues that many voters see as a ``do as I say, not as I do.''

It is the issue of public education.

Hahn has boasted repeatedly that his two children, Jackson and Karina, attend public schools.

``I believe in the public school system,'' Hahn said. ``My children go to public schools.''

Villaraigosa, whose wife, Corina, is a teacher in the Los Angeles Unified School District, has his two school-age children in Catholic schools. Antonio Jr. attends Loyola High School and daughter Natalie Fe goes to Mayfield Middle School.

The councilman has the endorsement of United Teachers Los Angeles, the teachers union.

``They were in public schools while in elementary schools, but my wife and I decided we wanted them to have a Catholic education as they got older,'' Villaraigosa said during the debate.

Villaraigosa did not object to the raising of the issue, saying at a post-debate news conference that he didn't consider it going over the line as a topic. Also, aides noted, it had been raised as an issue during the 2001 campaign.

Former Mayor Richard Riordan learned firsthand recently how fleeting fame is.

Riordan, who now serves as California Secretary of Education, was taking a Southwest Airlines flight to San Jose, where he was to speak at a school for autistic children.

Stuck in a long line, the impatient Riordan tried to duck around security and head to his flight, in an incident that has delighted the blogosphere world.

An aide confirmed Riordan was stopped by security personnel - who have been known to empty terminals for similar behavior by others - and, like a school kid trying to cut in front of others, sent to the back of the line to the good-natured kidding by other passengers.

Maybe, Riordan should stick to his private planes for transportation.

Former New York Rep. Geraldine Ferraro, best known for being the first woman nominated by a major party for vice president, was in Los Angeles last week and was saluted at a casual breakfast hosted in City Hall by Council President Alex Padilla.

It had been a long time since Ferraro was in City Hall, saying the last time was so long ago that Tom Bradley was mayor and she was presented with a political button by former Council President John Ferraro.

``All I remember is that it said 'Ferraro for Ferraro,'' she recalled.

Rick Orlov, [phone]

rick.orlov(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1) HAHN

(2) VILLARAIGOSA