More Than 100 Contend for Charter Reform Board Post

Showing surprising interest in a potentially powerful but somewhat arcane political job, more than 100 applicants have thrown their names into contention for the post of executive director of the city’s elected charter reform commission.

With the deadline for submissions set for 5 p.m. today, resumes have flooded the Los Angeles city clerk’s office from local and national candidates.

No application has been received, however, from former Assemblyman Mike Roos, who heads the LEARN educational reform campaign and has been nominated for the executive director’s job by three commission members, including allies of Mayor Richard Riordan. In fact, when the deadline for applications was extended from Friday to today’s close of business, there was some grumbling that the change was to accommodate Roos.

But commissioners dismissed such speculation, saying the extra time ensured proper consideration of several qualified candidates, including former Assemblywoman Barbara Friedman.

“My goal was to be inclusive as possible to allow us . . . to maximize the chances of getting the best executive director,” said Erwin Chemerinsky, a USC professor and commission member who recommended the extra time.

Attorney and panelist Rob Glushon said the commission’s search committee is scheduled to meet Thursday to discuss the slate of candidates and begin work on whittling down the pool to a short list of names.

Glushon said the applications hail from across the country, though the bulk are from around Southern California.

Whoever is picked for the post will be responsible for guiding the commission in drafting changes to the city’s 72-year-old charter. A rival charter reform commission, composed of appointees of the City Council, is engaged in the same process, and named its own director, political scientist Raphael J. Sonenshein, in February.