For Riordan, a Low-Key Start to a New Era : Inauguration: Ceremony will not be as posh as past ones. His speech will touch on personal responsibility and regaining the promise of Los Angeles. Festivities will showcase the city's diversity.

By MARC LACEY

July 1, 1993 12 AM PT

TIMES STAFF WRITER

At one second past midnight, Richard Joseph Riordan--a 63-year-old multimillionaire whose enormous wealth and strong anti-crime message won over a populace weary from riots and a lingering recession--became the 39th mayor of Los Angeles, ushering in a new era in city politics.

Although he planned to sleep through the official transfer of power, Riordan will mark the start of his four-year term today with a rousing, yet relatively low-budget, inauguration.

The new mayor will not have to look far for challenges. The inauguration ceremony, scaled back because of the city’s desperate financial shape, will take place on City Hall’s south lawn, a regular gathering spot for dozens of homeless people. Only a short drive away are the remains of businesses torched during last year’s riots.

In his inaugural address today, Riordan plans to say that “it is time to rekindle the spirit of personal responsibility” and get residents to take back their neighborhoods.

According to a copy of his speech, he will add: “The promise of Los Angeles is ours to regain in the next four years.”

Inauguration Day festivities begin with a 7 a.m. church service at Our Lady Queen of Angels Church, led by Cardinal Roger M. Mahony, a friend of Riordan, and end late in the evening with a private reception at Riordan’s Brentwood mansion.

Between those two events, there will be an interfaith prayer breakfast and a parade. In an attempt to reach out to the city’s diverse cultures, the day also will feature mariachi bands; Korean, Japanese and Chinese folk dancers; a gospel choir; a singing group from South-Central, and a children’s choir with each child in a costume reflecting his or her cultural heritage.

At 10:15 a.m., Riordan plans to meet privately with former Mayor Tom Bradley in the wood-paneled third-floor office that Bradley has used for two decades. It is the place where the outgoing mayor helped orchestrate the 1984 Olympics, one of his proudest moments, and a place where he huddled with advisers as allegations of conflicts of interest dogged the end of his fourth term and riots broke out in his fifth.

The inauguration ceremony starts at 11 a.m. before a host of dignitaries, hundreds of onlookers and media from around the world.

“I do solemnly swear,” Riordan is to say, “that I support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the state of California, and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of mayor according to the best of my ability.”

The oath Riordan takes today will be for appearances only because he was officially sworn in by Acting City Clerk Nancy Russell, as required by law. That ceremony took place Monday at a small, private gathering in his downtown law offices, paving the way for him to go from private attorney and venture capitalist to the 39th mayor of the nation’s second-largest city as the clock ticked past midnight.

Since he defeated City Councilman Michael Woo in the hard-fought June 8 runoff, Riordan has slipped comfortably into his preparations to become mayor, his first elected office.

“I was nervous a couple weeks ago thinking about the future,” Riordan said Wednesday. “But as the team is coming together, I’m more excited.”

Already, he has negotiated with Gov. Pete Wilson in Sacramento, jogged with President Clinton in Washington and appeared in Los Angeles’ 23rd annual Gay and Lesbian Pride Parade. He also has been nurturing the City Council members, who will largely determine the success of his Administration.

Much of his senior staff is in place. Led by Chief of Staff William McCarley, the Riordan team mixes veteran City Hall hands with newcomers. Riordan has said diversity will be an important factor in his appointments. He has named a gay man and an Asian-American woman to deputy mayor posts.

“Wait until we make all of our appointments before you judge whether we reflect the diversity of our city,” Riordan said, “because I guarantee you I will.”

The Los Angeles that Riordan will lead has changed drastically since Bradley took his first oath in 1973. Its population has grown by leaps and bounds, and it has attracted both the admiration and the scorn of the world.

Riordan’s ceremony will take place in the shadow of skyscrapers born during the Bradley years, during which waves of immigration turned Anglos into a minority group. Latinos now account for about 40% of the population and Anglos about 37%.

“The mood during Bradley’s inaugural was very upbeat, very jubilant. The history-making significance was not lost at all. He was the first black mayor,” recalled attorney Stan Sanders, who was there on Bradley’s first day as mayor and plans to be there for Riordan’s.

“This time it’s going to be very businesslike,” Sanders said. “There will be a little pomp and circumstance, but it will be more ‘Let’s get him in, and let’s get down to business.’ ”

Another difference has been the atmosphere leading to the changeover. Former Mayor Sam Yorty did not attend Bradley’s inaugural, and cooperation during that transition was minimal. The retiring Bradley plans to be at Riordan’s side during today’s ceremony, before he sets off on foot to his new law office, Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison, several blocks away.

Today’s Events These are highlights of events for the inauguration of Mayor-elect Richard Riordan. They are open to the public unless otherwise noted. 7 a.m.--Private service for Riordan and invited guests, Chapel of Our Lady Queen of Angels.

8 a.m.--Private interfaith council breakfast for Riordan and guests at Union Station.

9:15 a.m.--Led by a band, Riordan and supporters walk to City Hall.

10 a.m.--Inaugural festivities begin on south lawn. Events include:

* Chinese lion dance.

* Welcoming remarks from host Johnny Grant.

* Korean farmers dance.

* Japanese folk dance.

* Big Band music by the Los Angeles Police Concert Band.

* Folkloric music.

* Voices of Grace Gospel Choir.

* Musical theater salute.

* Finale by Children of the World Choir.