Friends of Tom Bradley (Cont.)

The Tom Bradley Administration’s questionable ways of bending over backwards to help political friends continue to dismay and disappoint. The latest case in point: the use of city offices, equipment and staff to aid the campaign of Los Angeles City Council candidate Rita Walters.

A Times investigation found that at least six aides improperly spent city time on the Walters campaign, writing briefing papers and meeting with her to discuss issues relating to the 9th councilmanic race. Reporters Jane Fritsch and Dean E. Murphy uncovered details of the aid provided, including copies of computer messages; one, from Deputy Mayor Mark Fabiani, urged Bradley staff members to “boost the crowd” at a Walters weekend fund-raiser. It is against state law to use taxpayer resources for campaign purposes. The mayor, saying he knew nothing of his staff’s activity on behalf of a candidate he strongly endorsed, expressed “outrage” and took disciplinary action. He reprimanded the aides and ordered two staffers to reimburse the city for staff and computer time used--which amounted to the painful sums of $24 and $13, respectively.

Fabiani, who was on vacation in Hawaii last week, reportedly was taken to the woodshed via telephone. The deputy mayor has demonstrated an appalling lack of political smarts, and in this case, ethical judgment.

But what’s most unfortunate is that this controversy has hurt the credibility of Walters, who has long been held in high esteem by many voters. The Times endorsed Walters in the primary. But the very fact that Walters sought information about the 9th District from, of all places, the mayor’s office--from staff people who certainly hold no expertise about the problems of daily life in that South-Central area--is too telling to ignore. Rival candidate Bob Gay knows the issues of the district. He was a top aide for the late Councilman Gilbert Lindsay for 16 years; but that longtime affiliation with Lindsay’s neglect of the southern portion of the district raises some doubt about how aggressively he would fight to correct the problems.

Thus the Times chooses not to endorse in the June 4 runoff election for this district.