Interim Chief Named to Run DWP

Los Angeles city officials moved quickly Friday to name an interim head of the Department of Water and Power to replace S. David Freeman, who disclosed earlier this week that he is taking a job overseeing state energy issues.

David H. Wiggs Jr.--who has worked as a consultant on energy issues for a number of government officials--will hold the post as head of the city utility through September. That will give the new mayor, to be elected June 5, time to conduct a nationwide search for a permanent replacement.

Wiggs was appointed by a 4-0 vote of the Water and Power Commission during a hastily called special meeting, held via conference call Friday. Some City Council members complained that the commission, in its rush to replace Freeman, treated him shabbily and failed to provide a meaningful opportunity for public participation.

City officials were eager to move Freeman out of his job as general manager of the DWP because they were worried he would put state needs ahead of local interests.

After Gov. Gray Davis confirmed Monday that he was hiring Freeman as his chief energy advisor, city officials told the popular head of the DWP that he should leave his city post immediately. Tuesday was Freeman’s last day at City Hall. He starts his new job with Davis on May 1, and is widely believed to be a leading candidate to head a new California power authority.

Although Mayor Richard Riordan and others praised Freeman for making smart decisions that have shielded Los Angeles from the state’s energy crisis, they were concerned that his allegiances had shifted.

“[Freeman] has a new boss, he has a new objective,” said one City Hall insider. “He has an objective and a mission from the state to make sure the lights are kept on at all costs.”

Freeman could not be reached for comment Friday.

The Water and Power Commission--acting at Riordan’s request--announced Thursday that it was having a special meeting to name Freeman’s replacement. Since members of the volunteer commission were scattered across the city, they decided to conduct their meeting via telephone. Members of the public seeking to voice an opinion were told to go to the 10th floor of a Century City office building, where they could participate in the conference call.

Ridley-Thomas Criticizes Panel

Although no one from the public showed up, some members of the City Council phoned in to complain that the commission was acting inappropriately.

“It almost suggests that they didn’t want the public involved,” Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas said. “If you want to participate you have to come to Century City? This is just typical back-room dealing. . . . I cannot see any reason why this could not be handled in the regularly scheduled commission meeting.”

He said he also was upset that Freeman had to leave his post this week, even though he still had two weeks left on the job.

“Why create an enemy out of the very person who has created a sense of security for Los Angeles while the rest of the state is on its heels?” Ridley-Thomas said. “Mr. Freeman had no need or desire to be an antagonist toward the city of Los Angeles.”

Commission President Ken Lumbard sought to downplay the decision to move quickly on Freeman’s replacement.

“Gov. Gray Davis made it clear that he had an immediate need for David,” Lumbard said. “It was in the best interests of the [DWP] and the state that we should release David immediately to go up to Sacramento.”

Lumbard said Wiggs, 53, was chosen as a temporary replacement because of his long history in dealing with energy issues. As president of DHW Consulting in Newport Beach, he has been serving as an energy advisor to state Assembly Speaker Bob Hertzberg (D-Sherman Oaks).

Wiggs also served as a consultant to the DWP in 1997 when the utility was preparing to compete in California’s deregulated market, commission officials said.

The commissioners also promoted 30-year DWP veteran Frank Salas to chief operating officer.