Convention Flap Last Chapter for Library Commissioner

Just months after she was forced out as head of the host committee for the Democratic National Convention, political operative Lucy McCoy of Encino has severed her last formal ties to Mayor Richard Riordan’s administration.

McCoy has resigned as president of the Los Angeles Library Commission, she said this week.

“For personal reasons, I decided to leave,” McCoy said. “I had been there five years and it was time for something else.”

McCoy was seen by many at City Hall as an early favorite of Riordan’s. Her San Fernando Valley fund-raising firm was often tapped for pet projects of the mayor.

Riordan appointed her to the Library Commission five years ago, and she served as president of the panel for the last four years. She played a leading role in the campaign for bonds to build new libraries.

She was also tapped by Riordan to help win Los Angeles the right to host this year’s Democratic National Convention, and after the city prevailed, she was named to head the host committee.

But Riordan pushed McCoy aside in February and named a top aide, Noelia Rodriguez, to replace her after her work was criticized.

Asked if her decision to quit the library board had anything to do with a souring of her relationship with the mayor, McCoy said, “No comment.” She gave the same response when asked if she was treated fairly.

HIGH NOON: Republican television actor Larry Doyle hasn’t starred in any westerns, but he seems to envision his campaign to unseat Democratic Rep. Brad Sherman of Sherman Oaks as something of a saloon duel.

Doyle, who played security officer Michael Garibaldi in the “Babylon 5” show, has challenged Sherman to a series of debates “in the interest of public enlightenment and the pursuit of a healthy democratic government.”

What exactly does Doyle have in mind?

“Specifically, I challenge you to make yourself available to debate at least once before 12 noon and once after 12 noon for each community within the district,” Doyle told Sherman in a letter Tuesday.

Sherman’s campaign consultant, Parke Skelton, was befuddled.

“How early does he want to do it, 3 a.m.?” Skelton asked.

Sherman hasn’t agreed to any debate yet, Skelton said, but “he’s never had any hesitancy about doing that.”

UNCEREMONIOUS: In formally announcing her campaign for a West Valley council seat this week, Francine Oschin had a Chumash Indian priest conduct a sage ceremony across the street from the shuttered, old City Hall building to “reach the spirits of those who passed through the historic building.”

Perhaps Oschin’s effort should have been better aimed at reaching the living inhabitants of the new City Hall building.

In calling the news conference, Oschin said those expected to appear included Riordan and current members of the City Council and Board of Supervisors.

The only politician who showed up was Councilman Hal Bernson, who is Oschin’s boss.

TEAM PLAYER: Assembly Speaker Bob Hertzberg of Sherman Oaks had to fend off a challenge for the speakership from Assemblyman Tony Cardenas of Sylmar.

But no hard feelings.

The new speaker has given Cardenas one of the Assembly’s top jobs, naming him chairman of the powerful budget committee.

By most accounts, Cardenas had nowhere near the votes needed to threaten Hertzberg’s bid to succeed the last speaker, Assemblyman Antonio Villaraigosa of Los Angeles.

But once the “fight” was over, Cardenas lost no time demonstrating he’s a loyal member of the Hertzberg team.

Just before the March primary, Cardenas withdrew $50,000 from his campaign war chest and deposited it in . . . you guessed it . . . Hertzberg’s.

The money went into Hertzberg’s Assembly Democratic Leadership 2000 account. That’s the one Hertzberg uses to help favored Democrats around the state win close Assembly races.