Supervisor Common Sense

In the military, “foxhole conversion” is a term cynically applied to soldiers who suddenly find religion amid the dangers of the battlefield. As 1992’s political wars wind down, it has clearly been a year in which many incumbents, under intense rhetorical fire from opponents and angry constituents, have similarly found religion.

None of these conversions strikes us as so unlikely as the sudden change that has come over Los Angeles County Supervisor Deane Dana, who represents the coastal 4th District and is being challenged by Rolling Hills Mayor Gordana Swanson.

During his 12 years on the county board, Dana has been very much a part of the status quo in the county Hall of Administration, a cozy coterie of bureaucrats overseen by five supervisors who all too often act more like a rubber stamp than elected watchdogs. Yet if you listen to his radio commercials or read his campaign literature, Dixon comes across like a local Robin Hood--protecting the little people against the powers that be. In fact, Dana has been among the staunchest defenders of Los Angeles County’s outdated and troubled system of government.

The most egregious instance came earlier this year, when outgoing county Chief Administrative Officer Richard B. Dixon, using a loophole in state law, quietly pushed through a $256-million pension increase for county officials. Dana actually defended the move when The Times first reported it. Only when public outrage over the pension spiking scandal exploded did Dana scramble for cover and find religion. He tried to have Dixon fired but was spared the trouble when the top county bureaucrat resigned.

As Dana runs for reelection he should accept his record and defend it, rather than trying to make himself out to be the fiery reformer he most definitely is not. Because of this questionable record, this newspaper has endorsed Swanson for the 4th District seat. We hope the district’s voters will agree on Election Day.