Riordan Replaces Convention Planner

Demonstrating his determination to take over the much-maligned planning for this summer’s Democratic National Convention, Mayor Richard Riordan on Wednesday pushed aside the head of the event’s host committee and replaced her with one of his most trusted aides.

Deputy Mayor Noelia Rodriguez said she had agreed to take over the host committee, replacing Lucy McCoy, a public relations and fund-raising expert who has worked with Riordan on a number of projects.

The mayor, a Republican, gave no reason for the move. His only public comments were to praise the official he ousted and to express confidence in her successor, a curious combination that puzzled some observers and irritated others, particularly some people who are part of the convention planning effort.

Despite his unwillingness to say so publicly, Riordan’s move reflects his mounting concern about preparations for the event, which city leaders see as a chance for Los Angeles to advertise itself to the world.

The host committee is far behind on its fund-raising goals. Having promised to raise all of its $35-million budget in 1999, it remains about $9 million short and has exhausted many of its natural sources for that money. Opinions differ as to how serious that shortfall is, however, in light of the fact that three of the officials hosts alone--businessmen Eli Broad, David Geffen and Ron Burkle--have an estimated combined wealth in the neighborhood of $10 billion.

Putting Rodriguez in charge of the committee, and having her continue to report directly to the mayor, will vastly strengthen Riordan’s hold on the convention, but it also may have other consequences. For one thing, it means Rodriguez will leave the administration--for at least six months, perhaps never to return--at precisely the time Riordan is under attack for what some characterize as his lackadaisical handling of the Rampart police scandal.

The move also raises questions about the relationship between Riordan and his longtime friend and advisor, Bill Wardlaw. Riordan and Wardlaw have sparred in recent weeks, ever since Wardlaw elected not to support Riordan’s choice in the mayor’s race, Steve Soboroff, and instead signed on as chairman of the mayoral campaign of City Atty. James K. Hahn. Wardlaw is a longtime backer of McCoy and was largely responsible for her taking charge of the host committee, of which Wardlaw is a leading member.

Finally, Riordan’s decision jangles an already dispirited group of convention planners, who insist they are on the right track and view the mayor’s overtures as unnecessary and annoying.

“He hasn’t done a single thing on the whole convention,” said one person close to the effort. “Now he comes in once most of the work is done.”

City Council President John Ferraro was surprised by the move. “I thought Lucy was doing an excellent job,” Ferraro said.

Tim Leiweke, who runs Staples Center, where the convention will be held, said he didn’t know why the switch was made. “I wish I knew,” he said. “I simply know that we’ve lost a good person. . . . The other side of this is that I’m glad to see the mayor put his chin out there.”

In fact, some observers say a major benefit of the move will be to solidify Riordan’s personal commitment to pulling off a successful convention. Among other things, some say, Riordan’s decision to put his own top aide in charge of the host committee all but guarantees that he will see that the balance of the money is raised.

“This underscores that this is the No. 1 priority for the mayor this year,” Rodriguez said.

In a statement released by his office, Riordan simultaneously praised McCoy and her team and announced that she was being replaced.

“I have the highest regard for Lucy McCoy and want to thank her for her role in bringing the convention to Los Angeles and for laying the groundwork for this special celebration in the city’s history,” Riordan said. “Thanks to Lucy and the L.A. Convention 2000 staff, we are on track to accommodate and welcome thousands of delegates, media representatives and tourists at this summer’s convention.”

McCoy’s statement was similarly upbeat--and equally unclear about the reasons for the shake-up.

“Today, I am stepping down as president of L.A. Convention 2000,” she said. “I am honored to have played a leadership role in bringing the convention to Los Angeles. We have set the stage for a successful event that will show the world what Angelenos already know: Los Angeles is one of the most vibrant and exciting cities in the world.”

McCoy promised to stay on long enough to ensure a smooth transition.

The host committee is one of two organizations involved in the planning and staging of this summer’s convention, an event expected to draw 20,000 delegates, reporters and others from around the world. The second is run by the Democratic Party, whose quadrennial convention will crown the party’s nominee for president. It is that Democratic Party organization that has been the subject of most of the concerns from local leaders, but it is beyond Riordan’s reach. Although he is working closely with a number of Democratic Party officials, Riordan’s Republican Party affiliation precludes him from making staff changes in a Democratic Party organization.

First Concrete Goals Reached

Oddly, Riordan’s announcement comes just as the planning groups are showing some signs of shaking off the lethargy that dogged the effort in 1999. The Democratic National Convention Committee this week announced its plan for housing the various delegations that will visit the city--a key step toward allowing the city to move ahead with transportation and security arrangements--and settled on the hotels that will act as news media and party centers.

Some observers believe Riordan’s anxiety about the state of the convention planning is at least as much the result of botched communication within his own staff as it is a comment on the work done by the host committee and Democratic Party organizers.

On Wednesday, leaders of the Democratic Party group said they were ready to move forward with their new counterpart.

Times staff writer Antonio Olivo contributed to this story.