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Daily News, Los Angeles, Rick Orlov Column

Posted on: Tuesday, 27 June 2006, 15:00 CDT

By Rick Orlov, Daily News, Los Angeles

Jun. 26--SCHOOL-POWER COMPROMISE STILL HAS A LONG WAY TO GO: If you thought the last several months of battling between Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Los Angeles school officials were brutal, you ain't seen nothing yet.

The compromise worked out last week by Villaraigosa and United Teachers Los Angeles on his effort to gain more authority over the school system has a long way to go.

And the continuing battle could stretch well into next year's election -- when four school board members are on the ballot.

Those close to the negotiations last week said there was no single moment that brought the mayor and union forces together. Instead, it was a recognition that the overall effort represented an opportunity for the two sides to join forces against the district.

Now, the district and school board -- which brought much of this on itself by rebuffing Villaraigosa's efforts over the past year -- finds itself scrambling to build allies in a state Legislature where it has few friends.

Even Assemblywoman Jackie Goldberg, D-Los Angeles, a former school board member, softened her criticism of the mayor and said there are parts of the compromise that she could accept.

And she advised those opposed to the plan that they need to get their act together.

The bill is going to be on a fast track for consideration, she cautioned, and opponents will have to move quickly if they hope to see any changes.

For the school board, the political test could come within the next several months -- depending on what it does to try to block the mayor's efforts.

Four members -- Margueritte LaMotte, Jon Lauritzen, Mike Lansing and David Tokofsky -- are up for re-election next year. LaMotte and Tokofsky have been the most outspoken of the four in opposing Villaraigosa's proposal.

The mayor could take a page from the political playbook of former Mayor Richard Riordan, who was able to elect his own slate of candidates over opposition from UTLA.

The difference this time, however, is that Villaraigosa would expect to have the help of UTLA in selecting the candidates and pushing their election.

In fact, most expect it to be UTLA that would take the lead in any effort to change the board, allowing Villaraigosa to remain above the fray.

With the announcement by a group of Chatsworth homeowners that they want to launch a recall campaign against Councilman Greig Smith, there has been talk of an effort to draft outgoing Assemblyman Keith Richman to challenge Smith in next year's election.

The recall effort, prompted by protests over the location of a private school, is not seen as having much of a chance.

But it has prompted Smith opponents to try to find someone to challenge him next year.

However, it won't be Richman, R-Granada Hills. Richman said he has no interest in running for City Council. Besides, he said, he has already given Smith his endorsement for re-election next year.

"A lot of people have talked to me about running, but I have no interest in that," said Richman, who was termed out this year and lost in a bid for the GOP nomination for state treasurer.

"The only political job in the city I would be interested in is mayor and I have no plans to do that, either," Richman said.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: "Sometimes out of chaos comes good public policy."

--Villaraigosa on how his compromise LAUSD reform proposal came about.

rick.orlov@dailynews.com

(213) 978-0390

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Source: Daily News - Los Angeles, California

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