Lobbyists Exert Their Influence on Lobby Reform

They claim to be misunderstood, unfairly maligned.

But a new trade group formed by City Hall lobbyists has used its collective muscle to fight back, halting proposed new restrictions on the profession in Los Angeles.

The Los Angeles Lobbyist and Public Affairs Assn. was formed in January by 20 legislative advocates working City Hall.

When the Los Angeles Ethics Commission recently recommended for the second time in eight years that city commissioners be banned from paid lobbying, the group sprang into action. The association issued a letter of opposition, and influential members descended on the City Council.

The result: When the ordinance reached the council, it was continued once and then dumped back into the rules committee, which had passed it a month earlier.

“It’s been our belief that this is an attack on lobbyists,” said Steve Afriat, a founder of the group. “The intent of this is to convey to the public that lobbyists are not to be trusted.”

Council President Alex Padilla confirmed that he and his colleagues heard from lobbyists before he sent the proposal back to the committee, which he heads.

“Some council members said they wanted to look at it a little more,” Padilla said, adding that he wants to consider the restriction along with other reforms recommended by the Ethics Commission but not expected to reach the full council until next year.

A few council members suggested the issue should go back to the Ethics Commission for reconsideration as part of the larger package of reforms.

That angered members of the Ethics Commission, who agreed last week to write a letter to the City Council reminding the elected officials that the commission has recommended the ban twice.

Only four of the city’s 200 registered lobbyists serve on city commissions, and three of them would be affected by the ban. They are: Dominick Rubalcava, chairman of the city Board of Water and Power Commissioners and a lobbyist for Wal-Mart; Mike Roos, a parks commissioner and lobbyist for URS Construction and PPM Energy; and James Acevedo, a harbor commissioner and lobbyist for New Century Financial Corp.

Acevedo has more than a dual role. He has also served as a political consultant for some council members, including Padilla.

Texas Also Votes In a Vietnamese American

Looks like Orange County Assemblyman-elect Van Tran will share the honor of being the first Vietnamese American to be elected to a state legislature.

Tran was easily elected to the 68th Assembly District on Nov. 2 after ousting the incumbent, Assemblyman Ken Maddox (R-Garden Grove), in the primary.

Tran’s fellow Vietnamese American legislator, Hubert Vo, a businessman from Houston, had a tougher time. Vo captured a seat in the Texas House by just 31 votes.

Vo’s opponent, 22-year veteran Talmadge Heflin, chairman of the Texas House Appropriations Committee, is expected to ask for a recount of the 42,000 votes cast.

Parks Touts List of Celebrity Supporters

Just weeks after Councilman Bernard C. Parks announced that his campaign had the backing of Bill Cosby, Parks came out with the rest of the cast of entertainment industry figures endorsing his campaign.

They include “Soul Train” host Don Cornelius, comedian Arsenio Hall, singers Billy Davis and Nancy Wilson, and actors Angie Dickinson (“Police Woman”), Vivica A. Fox (“Independence Day”), Marla Gibbs (“The Jeffersons”), Brooke Shields (“Suddenly Susan”) and Cicely Tyson (“The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman”).

“Our campaign continues to grow like a sleeper movie that is quickly becoming a blockbuster,” Parks said. “I am thrilled to have received the green light for mayor from such a distinguished group of entertainment industry leaders.”

Setting the film metaphors aside, does parading around with Hollywood actors and singers really help a candidate get elected?

Let’s ask Sen. John F. Kerry.

You Say Fundraising, I Say Fundraiser

Los Angeles Mayor James K. Hahn was quick to defend his former airport commission president when The Times revealed that Ted Stein had hosted a fundraiser at his home two years ago that drew numerous companies that had recently won business from Stein and the commission.

Stein, who helped raise thousands of dollars for Hahn’s campaign against San Fernando Valley secession in 2002, was not fundraising, the mayor said.

To explain his contention that hosting a fundraiser is not the same as fundraising, Hahn cited his own involvement in fundraisers at the city’s ceremonial residence for the mayor, Getty House.

“You know, I let people have fundraisers at the Getty House,” the mayor said in the Sept. 10 Times article. “It’s my house, as the mayor. I’m the host. Am I fundraising for those organizations? No. I’m letting someone use my house for a fundraiser.”

Hahn never identified the fundraisers he was talking about.

Problem is, there are no fundraisers at Getty House, save those that are organized by the Getty House Foundation, the mayor’s office acknowledged recently. The nonprofit foundation operates the stately home near Hancock Park.

“The mayor just made a mistake,” Hahn spokeswoman Shannon Murphy explained.

Points Taken

* A year after the Los Angeles City Council turned down a proposal to rename Crenshaw Boulevard for former Mayor Tom Bradley, council members are quietly aiming a little lower. Councilman Parks introduced a motion last week to rename a portion of Welland Avenue after Bradley, who lived on the street until his death in 1998.

The Crenshaw proposal drew community opposition because it involved a major thoroughfare that gives its name to the Crenshaw district. It’s unlikely the new proposal to create Tom Bradley Square will create the same stir.

* Senate President Pro Tem-elect Don Perata said last week he would ask the Senate Democratic Caucus to elect Sen. Kevin Murray (D-Culver City) as caucus chairman. Currently chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee, Murray was first elected to the Senate in 1998. “Senate Democrats will be well-served by his energy and ideas,” Perata said. He has also proposed state Sen. Gloria Romero as Senate majority leader. The election for the two positions will take place when the Legislature reconvenes Dec. 6.

* Ron Deaton, the top advisor to the Los Angeles City Council, goes before his bosses in a confirmation hearing this week for his appointment as general manager of the city Department of Water and Power. Deaton is recommending that his executive officer, Gerry Miller, take over as interim chief legislative analyst while the council looks for a permanent replacement. Council President Padilla has called a closed-door meeting for Nov. 23 to pick an interim legislative analyst. An ad hoc committee of council members will oversee the search for a permanent replacement.

You Can Quote Me

“Term limits have not done what people wanted in preventing legislators from being professional politicians. Extending them simply gives legislators more of a cushion before they have to play musical chairs.”

-- George Kieffer, board chairman for the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, in calling last week for term limits to be abolished for the state Legislature.

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Contributing this week were Times staff writers Noam N. Levey and Jean O. Pasco.