Thompson Picks Hayden, Pans Boland, in School District Intrigue

BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO: Weighing in on a highly controversial issue, Los Angeles Unified School District Supt. Sid Thompson recommended this week that the Board of Education support legislation sponsored by state Sen. Tom Hayden (D-Santa Monica) and oppose a bill by Assemblywoman Paula Boland (R-Granada Hills), both of which would help spur a breakup of the massive school system.

But there’s just one problem. The bills are tied together--known in the Legislature as “double joined”--so that they must both be approved by the governor before either can be enacted.

So the Hayden camp, while relieved that they won the superintendent’s endorsement, says that’s not enough. “Tom’s been in consultation with members of the school board, but it’s a two-bill package,” said Duane Peterson, Hayden’s chief of staff. “They both must pass and get the governor’s signature.”

At a board meeting earlier this week, Thompson suggested that the panel oppose Boland’s bill because it lowers the percentage of registered voters--from 25% to 8%--required to place a breakup plan on the ballot. Thompson said he believes the percentage should be consistent with the number of registered voters required in other districts and other cities.

But Boland said she doesn’t believe the board’s discussion of the bills will be meaningful. “They want to kill the bill,” Boland said. “They don’t want to lose their power, they don’t want to listen to the parents. They just want their own social agenda.”

While board President Mark Slavkin said he would invite both Boland and Hayden to attend the March 20 meeting when the school board will discuss and vote on the bills, Boland said she will not attend. “They would treat me just like they do their constituents: nod their heads, then vote no.”

Hayden has other duties in Sacramento and also will not attend but will send a representative, Peterson said.

Boland said she believes the district is “playing political games” by supporting one bill and not the other. She said the board could then appear to be supporting Hayden while hoping both bills fail.

At the meeting, Thompson said he believes that the Hayden bill, which requires any breakup plan to maintain court orders and desegregation efforts, should be amended. He said the amendments must include other programs--such as busing to relieve overcrowding.

Thompson said the school board should take a position on both bills. “They both represent the first step. That’s why we thought it was essential to take a position,” Thompson said. “We felt there should be a position taken so the public knows what we are saying.”

Again, Boland rejected Thompson’s explanation. “Who do they think they are?” she said. “They want to keep people in the dark.”

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NEVER SAY DIE: Lea Purwin D’Agostino is known as the “Dragon Lady” because of her tenacity as a criminal prosecutor. But tenacity a characteristic she has also exhibited in her fight to remain on the ballot for the 5th City Council District seat.

But even if she retakes her place on the ballot, she will need more than tenacity to win.

Last month, city election officials disqualified her from the race, saying she had failed to submit enough valid signatures on her nominating petition. She appealed to a Superior Court judge, asking him to order election officials to put her back on. But the judge sided with election officials. D’Agostino appealed again, this time to the state Court of Appeal, which, surprisingly, ruled Wednesday that it will review the lower court’s decision.

But the Court of Appeal’s hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, meaning that if D’Agostino persuades the court to put her name on the ballot, she will have only four weeks to jump-start an otherwise dead campaign before the April 11 primary.

“It will be the first time in my experience that I would have to take a campaign from point zero to winning,” said Darry Sragow, D’Agostino’s campaign manager, a consultant with 20 years of experience. “Is it going to be easy? No.”

Indeed. D’Agostino closed her campaign office last month and put her fund-raising activities on hold. Her last campaign report showed that she had raised only $52,000, including $25,000 she loaned to her campaign. Some of that money has been spent on legal fees to fight her court battle. In contrast, Barbara Yaroslavsky, wife of Zev Yaroslavsky, the man who represented the district for 19 years before joining the County Board of Supervisors, has raised $307,000.

But if D’Agostino does get her name on the ballot, Sragow says he has prepared a strategy for the four-week campaign that involves launching a phone blitz to generate donations from supporters and a flood of mailers to get her name in front of voters.

“We will just take the best shot we can,” he said.

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SIGNING UP THE CONGRESS: Both of the San Fernando Valley’s Republican congressmen are as popular as ever these days as a growing field of GOP presidential candidates begin to jockey for endorsements from voter-rich California.

Rep. Carlos J. Moorhead (R-Glendale) said he has begun to receive invitations to functions sponsored by candidates and potential candidates, most of whom he knows well. The dean of the state’s congressional delegation has been gently turning them down, waiting for the 1996 race for the White House to evolve.

“Most of them are friends and they are certainly fine people, but we haven’t seen who is going to catch fire or who the final candidates are going to be,” Moorhead said.

Rep. Howard (Buck) McKeon (R-Santa Clarita) is waiting for something else--Gov. Pete Wilson’s decision.

McKeon, who held a rally for Wilson in the final stretch of the governor’s race, called Wilson to tell him about the pressure that the campaigns of Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole (R-Kan.) and Sen. Phil Gramm (R-Texas) are putting on the California delegation.

If Wilson does jump into the fray, McKeon has already decided to back him.

“Buck realizes we need someone as President who is not part of the Washington Establishment and understands the hinterlands,” said McKeon aide Armando Azarloza.

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PACK OF PACS: The San Fernando Valley’s largest employers doled out more than $1 million to House and Senate candidates on both sides of the political aisle last year, with the donations just as likely going to local lawmakers as those representing far-flung districts in New York, Texas or Georgia.

Leading the pack among Valley-based PACs is the Lockheed Employees’ Political Action Committee, which made $591,611 in contributions in 1994.

“It allows us to participate in the political process by making contributions to those who are philosophically allied with us,” said Lockheed Vice President Steve Chaudet.

Last year, the aerospace giant’s checks went to 128 Democrats and 120 Republicans nationwide--including House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) as well as local Reps. Howard L. Berman (D-Panorama City), Howard (Buck) McKeon (R-Santa Clarita) and Carlos J. Moorhead (R-Glendale). The money came from voluntary payroll deductions from company executives.

At the other end of the spectrum is the Physicians Interindemnity/ FED-PAC, which gave out $17,325 to 21 federal candidates last year. To build up its fund, the cooperative collects $100 from each of its 900 member doctors and doles it out to the candidates members recommend.

Last year, that included $250 to Moorhead, $150 to McKeon and $300 to Rich Sybert, who was seeking to unseat longtime Rep. Anthony C. Beilenson (D-Woodland Hills). Beilenson is one of the few lawmakers who refuses to accept PAC contributions.

“You have to be in touch with the political scene,” said Dr. Sabri El Farra, treasurer of the Physicians Interindemnity PAC. “I’m not saying we’re so big that we’re going to influence legislation. But our PAC gives us contacts. When we see someone who is good for the profession, it’s nice to be able to help.”

Other large Valley-based contributors were the MCA Political Action Committee in Universal City ($186,184 to 108 candidates); the Litton Industries Inc. Employees Political Assistance Committee in Woodland Hills ($112,100 to 83 candidates), and the Sunkist Growers Inc. Political Action Committee in Sherman Oaks ($95,180 to 55 candidates).

Overall, there are more than 3,954 PACs registered with the Federal Election Commission, with the largest chunk of them sponsored by corporations. Labor unions, trade organizations and other interest groups also sponsor PACs.

So expansive is the list of PACs that the commission produces an annual “Pacronyms” report identifying the sponsoring organizations behind such mysterious entities as the BADPAC (Bridgeton Air Defense Political Action Committee), CACPAC (Citizens Action Coalition of Indiana), WHATAPAC (sponsored by Whataburger, Inc.) and RATPAC (Religion and Tolerance Political Action Committee).

Shuster and Martin reported from Los Angeles, Lacey from Washington, D.C.