Change at the Top

Some of the most powerful officials among the governing elite in the city and county of Los Angeles are leaving their jobs this year. The exodus has been greeted with both apprehension and elation as the city and county struggle with a nagging recession and the aftermath of this spring’s riots. Daryl F. Gates, 66

Position: Los Angeles’ 49th police chief, leading the 8,300-officer force for 14 years.

Background: Retired in June under the shadow of the Rodney G. King beating and criticism over police deployment problems during the riots.

Salary: $177,000.

Replacement: Former Philadelphia Police Commissioner Willie L. Williams. Richard B. Dixon, 55

Position: Spanning a 34-year career with Los Angeles County, appointed Los Angeles County’s chief administrative officer in 1987.

Background: Weakened by calls for his firing in the wake of allegations of excessive spending and abuse of power, he says he will resign at year’s end.

Salary: $174,610.

Replacement: A nationwide search is in progress, despite a November ballot measure to create an elected county executive. Kenneth Hahn, 72

Position: County supervisor representing the 2nd Supervisoral District in central Los Angeles for 40 years.

Background: Announced his retirement last October, paving the way for the election of a black supervisor.

Salary: $99,297.

Replacement: Supervisorial candidates in the Nov. 3 election are Yvonne Brathwaite Burke and state Sen. Diane Watson (D-Los Angeles). Ira Reiner, 56

Position: Los Angeles County’s 38th district attorney for eight years, with a staff of nearly 1,000 prosecutors.

Background: After trailing in the campaign for district attorney, withdrew from the race amid political controversy and losses on several major cases, including the trial of four officers accused in the King beating.

Salary: $116,823.

Replacement: Deputy Dist. Atty. Gilbert Garcetti, pending the November election. Clifton A. Moore, 70

Position: With 39 years of city service, became executive director of the Los Angeles Department of Airports in 1968, responsible for operation of Los Angeles and Ontario international airports, Palmdale Regional Airport and Van Nuys Airport.

Background: Citing age as a factor, announced his retirement on Sept. 1 to take effect after the first of the year.

Salary: $181,823.

Replacement: The Airport Commission has begun its search from within the city’s work force. Bill Anton, 68

Position: Superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District since 1990.

Background: Resigned after being blamed by critics for having no creative ideas and accused of protecting the district’s highly paid administrators at the expense of students and other employees. The teachers union had called for his ouster.

Salary: $159,618.

Replacement: Candidates for temporary superintendent reportedly include two deputy superintendents, Ruben Zacharias and Sid Thompson, and district lobbyist Ron Prescott.