Panel Formed for Schools Takeover Bid

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has taken a key step toward assuming control of the schools by forming a fundraising committee to support an election on school district governance, according to an attorney hired by the mayor.

The Mayor’s Committee for Government Excellence and Accountability allows Villaraigosa to raise money for either a local or state election. The formation of the committee was reported to the state attorney general’s office earlier this month.

In a statement, Villaraigosa said: “Reforming our public schools is the central challenge facing Los Angeles. I am committed to meeting this challenge and exploring all potential pathways to reform. The purpose of this committee is to support that work.”

Villaraigosa has said repeatedly in recent weeks that gaining control of the Los Angeles Unified School District is his No. 1 priority, because he believes the schools are failing children.

The mayor also recently said he intends to accomplish his takeover within two years, or by early 2008. Officials working for Villaraigosa said that first, two things would probably need to happen: a change in state law by legislators and a Los Angeles City Charter change by voters who live within L.A. Unified’s boundaries. The district includes all or part of about two dozen cities in addition to L.A.

The next regular citywide election is scheduled for March 2007, when seven City Council seats will be up for grabs. It is also still possible for a special election to be called to coincide with this November’s state and federal balloting.

School board members could not be reached Tuesday evening for comment because they were in closed session at their weekly meeting.

“The mayor wants to make it known that he’s proceeding in his efforts to advance his policy goals,” said Stephen Kaufman, an attorney who works for Villaraigosa on political campaigns. “Creating a committee is the first step to advancing the goals either by legislation or through the ballot.”