Holden Hires 2 Casualties of Limits

Los Angeles City Councilman Nate Holden has placed two former colleagues on the public payroll, at a cost of $7,600 per month, until they find new jobs.

“They don’t have jobs, but they have a lot of experience,” Holden said, adding that the former council members, Mike Hernandez and Rudy Svorinich Jr., will serve as consultants on a variety of issues, including transportation and housing matters.

The news of their hiring troubled some government watchdogs and took at least one person by surprise. Reached at his home in San Pedro on Tuesday morning, Svorinich said he had no idea that Holden had hired him.

“I’m not actively seeking a job at the moment,” said Svorinich, who was planting tomatoes in his garden when he was contacted by a reporter. “I was planning on doing some consulting after we come back from a series of vacations. We want to take a trip up the coast and throw into the mix some quality beach time with the kids.”

He added: “I haven’t talked to Nate since I left. I guess I need to call him.”

Hernandez could not be reached for comment. Like Svorinich, he finished his term June 30 and was blocked by term limits from seeking reelection.

Holden said both men will start work after taking short vacations. Holden filed paperwork with the city clerk’s office asking that Hernandez and Svorinich each be put on the city payroll, retroactive to July 1. The former councilmen each will be paid about $1,900 every two weeks, Holden acknowledged, adding that Hernandez, who headed the council’s Community and Economic Development Committee, will provide expertise on housing issues. Svorinich, who was in charge of the council’s Transportation Committee, will give advice on matters involving the taxi industry and the Alameda Corridor, Holden said.

“This is the kind of guy I am,” said Holden, who has two years left in his fourth and final term. “Sometimes people need help. I wanted to pick them up.”

After talking to Holden several hours later, Svorinich said Tuesday afternoon that he was “pleasantly surprised” that his former colleague thought to give him a job, described as a “part-time consultant’s position.” Svorinich said he has yet to discuss with Holden how much he will be paid.

“What I’m going to do is make myself on call as needed to them,” Svorinich said. “It’s nice to know that the expertise that I’ve accumulated with eight years of service to the city is still appreciated.”

As an avid opponent of term limits, Holden said he could not leave Hernandez and Svorinich “out in the cold.”

“These guys were stressing out,” Holden said. “I told [Svorinich] to take a few days off and come see me. I told him, ‘Take your family and be happy on vacation.’ ”

But taxpayer advocates say they want to make sure Hernandez and Svorinich earn their salaries.

“If this is simply for the purpose of taking care of them or payment for some kind of promise, then that would be, very simply, wrong,” said Jon Coupal, president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Assn. “I would hope these guys are performing a service. If that’s true, then it would be a positive thing.”

This is not the first time Holden has stepped in to hire City Council officials in need. After former Councilwoman Rita Walters fired Jan Perry from her staff two years ago, Holden hired Perry until she could find another job. Perry bounced back and was recently elected to fill Walters’ seat.

Famously colorful, Holden also has run afoul of some watchdog groups. He was criticized last year, for instance, for accepting a $45,000 sport utility vehicle at public expense. And in 1999, he was fined $27,500 for violating campaign finance laws during his 1995 reelection campaign.

“Mr. Holden,” Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas said wryly, “prides himself on being unconventional.”

Holden was undeterred.

“I’m not going to leave anyone out there hungry and neglected,” Holden said of his recent hires. “I don’t want them to go out in a panic, not knowing what they are going to do next. Let them make the decision in a calm environment. I’m a public servant. It makes me feel good when I can help someone.”