Reiner Being Pressed to Back Specht for City Attorney

For more than a month, Dist. Atty. Ira Reiner--one of the county’s most popular officeholders--has been under intense pressure from powerful Westside Democratic activists to endorse Lisa Specht for Los Angeles city attorney.

Among those strongly urging Reiner to make what could become the most important endorsement in the hotly contested city attorney campaign are longtime Reiner allies in the Berman-Waxman political organization--a political force on the Westside, parts of Southwestern Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley.

Meanwhile, other close Reiner advisers are strongly recommending that he remain neutral.

They have warned that such an endorsement could backfire, because County Supervisor Kenneth Hahn’s son, City Controller James K. Hahn, is also running for city attorney. The senior Hahn is a powerful Democratic Party figure, and if Reiner opposes his son, advisers have warned, the supervisor might take revenge against Reiner in another election or vote against Reiner’s budget request when it goes before the Board of Supervisors.

Reiner said he has not made up his mind.

“I’ve talked with many people about the race,” Reiner said in an interview. “I’m still giving some consideration to all of that. I haven’t reached a decision, so it’s premature.”

He added that if he decides to make an endorsement, “it certainly will be before April 9 (Election Day).”

Reiner said he is not worried about alienating Hahn.

“There isn’t any problem,” he said.

Reiner said he met privately with the supervisor last month and discussed the city attorney’s race, but he would not disclose details of the conversation. The district attorney played down the endorsement discussions among his supporters, saying that he did not believe that he is being pressured.

He also said he did not believe his endorsement would significantly affect the race.

“I just don’t put much store in endorsements,” Reiner said.

Specht strategists consider Reiner’s endorsement important--if not critical--to the political newcomer’s campaign to at least emerge as a runoff candidate in a primary that includes two other well-connected Democrats: Controller Hahn, the acknowledged front-runner, and redevelopment agency attorney Murray Kane. Two deputy city attorneys, Betsy Mogul and Charles Zinger, also are in the race.

They say it is important, because Specht has no prosecuting experience and backing from the county’s chief prosecutor could help her defuse the inexperience issue.

Reiner’s backing is also important to Specht because he has strong support throughout the city, particularly in black areas, where Supervisor Hahn is also strong.

Most of those on both sides of the sensitive Reiner endorsement issue agreed to interviews only on the condition that their names not be used.

However, Specht campaign chairman and longtime Reiner adviser, Bob Thomson, acknowledged that Reiner is being pushed for an endorsement. Thomson said, however, that Specht will win with or without Reiner’s backing.

Then why pressure Reiner?

“Obviously, everything you can do to maximize your message gets you that much closer to your goal,” Thomson said.

Reiner is particularly sensitive to pressure from the political organization headed by Democratic Reps. Howard Berman of Studio City and Henry Waxman of Los Angeles. The district attorney has long had close personal and political ties to the organization, supporting its Westside political candidates. The Berman-Waxman alliance, in turn, has helped Reiner, particularly in raising funds for his various campaigns.

Reiner also has close ties to the politically active law firm of Manatt, Phelps, Rothenberg & Tunney, where Specht, 39, is a partner. Also in the firm is one of Specht’s most vocal supporters, prominent political strategist Mickey Kantor. Kantor, a close personal friend of Reiner, was co-chairman of Reiner’s 1981 campaign for city attorney.