Old Warrior, Polished Newcomer Fight It Out

His goatee is suffused with gray and his manner is less confrontational, but former student agitator turned maverick legislator Tom Hayden has shown during his campaign for the Los Angeles City Council that he still has the ability to rile, and to be riled.

Forced by term limits to leave the state Senate last year, Hayden, 61, is up against the polished style of former federal prosecutor Jack Weiss, who was 3 years old when Hayden was arrested as one of the Chicago 7 activists who stormed the 1968 Democratic National Convention to protest the Vietnam War.

“People are interested in a new generation of constructive, positive leadership,” Weiss said. “Tom Hayden represents the politics of confrontation and division.”

Hayden said his 18 years as a state legislator representing much of the 5th Council District make him better prepared to serve as its next council member.

“Jack Weiss has little or no background in community action or government,” Hayden said. “The City Council is not a place for on-the-job training.”

In his first run for office, Weiss, 36, has eclipsed Hayden in fund-raising and assembled an impressive cross-section of high-powered supporters, from Republican Mayor Richard Riordan to longtime liberal Rep. Howard L. Berman (D-Mission Hills).

“It will be a close race. Both candidates are strong,” said political strategist Harvey Englander, who is not involved in either campaign.

In the April election for the 5th District seat, which featured 11 candidates, Hayden polled 34% and Weiss 22% to earn spots in the runoff Tuesday. Polls by both candidates a few weeks ago indicated Hayden had a lead, but not a majority.

With incumbent Mike Feuer running for city attorney, Weiss and Hayden are battling for a district that extends from the affluent neighborhoods of Westwood, Beverlywood, Cheviot Hills, Century City and Bel-Air to the hillsides of Sherman Oaks and Studio City and the working-class flatlands of Van Nuys.

Weiss lives in Bel-Air; Hayden moved from Brentwood to the Westwood home of his campaign coordinator to establish residency in the district. The son of former federal prosecutors, including a mother who became a Superior Court judge, Weiss said Hayden has had his day. The district is ready for new blood and new ideas, Weiss said.

Hayden, in turn, emphasizes his experience, which includes 10 years in the state Assembly and eight years in the state Senate. He takes credit for 175 bills and budget items passed, including measures reforming the Los Angeles Unified School District and providing park money to preserve open space in Los Angeles.

Hayden made failed bids for governor in 1994 and mayor in 1997. He enters the council race much better known, is generally popular in the very liberal sections of the district and has been able to tap his personal wealth to loan his campaign $170,000 for the runoff, in addition to $44,000 he has raised from others as of May 19.

He also has important endorsements for a liberal district, from the Los Angeles County Democratic Party and Sierra Club to the local branch of the National Organization for Women and the area’s popular state senator, Sheila Kuehl (D-Santa Monica). He has cultivated support from about 70 leaders of homeowner and resident associations.

The former husband of actress Jane Fonda, Hayden has had help from friends in Hollywood, including actors Warren Beatty and Dustin Hoffman.

Hayden also has friends in political high places. Last month, when Weiss sent out fliers calling Hayden’s legislative record “a failure” and accusing him of being soft on gangs, there were speedy denunciations from Gov. Gray Davis, who called Hayden an effective legislator, and Atty. Gen. Bill Lockyer, who said Hayden had pushed bills toughening penalties for gang violence.

Observers say Weiss has strong endorsements and none of Hayden’s baggage. And Weiss has raised more money--$243,000 in contributions, loans and city matching funds as of last week.

Hayden faces some obstacles as well, including his reputation as someone more interested in global issues. “People wonder if he cares about potholes and planning issues, and wonder if he is going to be off at World Bank demonstrations instead of at City Hall,” Englander said.

Hayden said he has been active in local issues for years, from reducing jet noise at Van Nuys Airport, to stopping the Belmont Learning Complex, creating an inspector general for wasteful practices at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and cleaning up Santa Monica Bay.

Hayden has proposed doubling the budgets for fixing potholes, installing speed bumps and increasing the number of students participating in the LA’s BEST after-school program. Weiss promises to focus on quality-of-life issues: increasing enforcement of sign codes and expanding anti-graffiti and sidewalk repairs.

Both men oppose secession of the San Fernando Valley.

The two come from different backgrounds. Weiss went to Beverly High School and UCLA law school. He worked as a law clerk for a federal judge before becoming an assistant U.S. attorney specializing in corruption and government fraud.

Hayden grew up in a middle-class suburb of Detroit, where his father was an accountant for Chrysler. Hayden went to the University of Michigan, where he had planned to become a journalist before he got caught up in the civil rights and antiwar movements.

Although his days as a student agitator are in the distant past, Hayden can still stir up a heated debate and anger opponents.

He shook Weiss’ cool several times during the campaign, from attacks on Weiss’ commitment to women’s rights to Hayden’s portrayal of Weiss as the pliable newcomer backed by the downtown business establishment.

During a forum, Weiss accused Hayden of distorting his record in support of women’s rights, saying “hold your tongue.”

He also criticized Hayden for scheduling a fund-raiser at the offices of Hustler magazine, which Hayden later canceled, saying it was a mistake.

On other issues, both candidates have called for expanding the police force to at least 10,000 officers. Weiss supports the recent restoration of the senior lead officer program, and Hayden wants to double the number of officers serving as liaisons to the public. Hayden opposes extending the tenure of Police Chief Bernard C. Parks when his five-year term ends next year; Weiss said he is willing to give Parks a chance to show he is committed to reform.

Hayden opposes the expansion of Los Angeles International Airport, saying it will create a traffic nightmare for surrounding communities. Weiss agrees with Hayden that planners should look at other airports in the region to take some of the load, but he supports expansion of LAX.

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City Council District 5

THE CANDIDATES

Jack Weiss

Age: 36

Residence: Bel-Air

Education: Graduate of Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University, law degree from UCLA

Career highlights: Assistant U.S. attorney from 1994 to 2000, working in the public corruption and government fraud sections. Before that, worked as a private attorney with law firm Irell & Manella, served as law clerk to U.S. District Judge Lourdes G. Baird, and as a congressional advisor on foreign policy.

Family: Married to investment counseling firm co-founder Leslie Kautz; two children, ages 7 and 5.

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Tom Hayden

Age: 61

Residence: Westwood

Education: University of Michigan, bachelor’s degree in journalism.

Career highlights: Arrested but later acquitted as one of the Chicago 7 on criminal charges of disrupting the 1968 Democratic National Convention. In 1982 he was elected to the state Assembly and in 1992 to the state Senate. In 1994 he made an unsuccessful run for governor of California. In 1997 he lost a bid to become mayor of Los Angeles.

Family: Married to actress-singer Barbara Williams, with whom he last year adopted an infant son.