LOS ANGELES : Council Fights Bill to Force Election of MTA Board

Members of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board of Directors should continue to be appointed rather than elected, the Los Angeles City Council agreed Tuesday.

A bill before the Legislature would change selection methods of the MTA board, requiring election of the transportation body’s members.

But the Los Angeles City Council voted 12-1 to oppose the legislative measure, worried about giving up “a great deal of our jurisdiction.”

Sen. Richard Polanco (D-Los Angeles) said he proposed changing the county transit board’s composition to improve accountability.

The agency’s subway construction program has been the subject of criticism because it is over budget and behind schedule. Charges of shoddy work have accompanied ground sinkage in Hollywood.

But city officials said SB 1152 would reduce the city’s influence on the 14-member board, which includes Mayor Richard Riordan and three council members.

Earlier this week, the MTA’s chief executive officer announced the hiring of an Alameda County transit official as its chief financial officer.

Ronny J. Goldsmith, who most recently served as assistant general manager and chief financial officer for Alameda County Transit in Oakland, has more than 20 years experience in public finance, said MTA chief Franklin White.

She replaces Terry Matsumoto, who had held the position on an interim basis since April, 1993.

Goldsmith will become one of the agency’s highest ranking female executives.