Ferraro Pledges City Hall Jobs for Gays : Pitches for Support From Group Usually Committed to Bradley

Bidding for support from usually solid backers of Mayor Tom Bradley, Councilman John Ferraro has pledged that as mayor, he would appoint qualified openly gay men and lesbians to his administration.

Ferraro spoke on the issue in an appearance Monday night before the political action committee of Log Cabin Club, a gay Republican group. The speech, and the question-and-answer session that followed, were Ferraro’s first mayoral campaign statements on gay issues. Speaking to half a dozen or so committee members in a savings and loan community room in the Hollywood area, Ferraro, often uncomfortably stiff in large groups, was relaxed and in good humor.

Italian Heritage

“Is Los Angeles ready for an Italian mayor?” asked Frank Ricchiazzi, the group’s vice president.

Ferraro said that he thinks the city is ready. Noting that his parents both were born in Italy, Ferraro, a former USC football lineman, said, “I’ve been called the world’s biggest Sicilian.”

He assured the audience that he supports them on gay issues.

Asked if he would issue a proclamation for a Gay Pride Week, Ferraro replied, “I would have no objection to that.”

When asked about appointment of qualified homosexuals, Ferraro said, “I’m in favor of (appointing) qualified people from all walks of life and all stations. I think it’s important to do that, and I would do that.”

The appearance marked Ferraro’s first campaign foray among gays, a constituency group Bradley has long sought to cultivate. Gays are a growing political force in the city, both as voters and contributors. Bradley, however, was criticized in the gay community for not including enough gay men and lesbians last year when he shook up his Administration by replacing most of his commissioners.

He attempted to counter that criticism last month in a speech to the gay Municipal Elections Committee of Los Angeles, when he pledged to appoint more homosexuals.

Ferraro also criticized the mayor for reversing himself and agreeing to permit the Occidental Petroleum Corp. to drill for oil on the Pacific Palisades beach. Ferraro conceded that he, too, had supported the drilling, but he blasted Bradley for changing his mind.