Kathleen Connell

In the world of politics, the hit piece takes on the form of high art. It's well planned and researched to touch nerves, and it's perfectly timed to wreak the most damage to a politician's rival. So when Controller Kathleen Connell convened a news conference earlier this week to announce, among other things, that she would not be paying legislators until they approved a state budget, it made some sense that she would detail how much lawmakers are paid.

The six major candidates for mayor of Los Angeles have pledged support for a vote next year on San Fernando Valley secession from the city, according to a survey released Thursday. The survey by the Valley VOTE secession group offers the clearest picture to date on where the candidates stand on the potential breakup of the city they hope to lead. All oppose cityhood for the Valley.

The leading candidates for mayor of Los Angeles clashed Wednesday over how to reform the public schools, with City Atty. James K. Hahn threatening for the first time to seek a breakup of the school district if a dramatic improvement doesn't occur soon.

Ending speculation that she might become the only woman to run for governor this year, Democratic state Controller Kathleen Connell announced Thursday that she will seek reelection. "I feel I can continue to serve the people of California by running, at this point, for controller," she said. "I think the field for governor is pretty well firmed up on the Democratic side." She said she had received "volumes of phone calls" from supporters asking her to seek the nomination for governor.

State Controller Kathleen Connell, a veteran of statewide electoral politics with a reputation for intelligence and a sharp temper, announced her candidacy for mayor of Los Angeles on Wednesday, joining a crowded field that is off to an early and expensive start. Connell, the only woman among the serious candidates for mayor, launched her campaign with three stops that emphasized the city's diversity and her commitment to tapping it.

The contest for mayor of Los Angeles is growing increasingly tense as Tuesday's election approaches, with much of the heat generated by attacks on the records of the most experienced candidates. But the assaults have not masked an essential truth: In politics, incumbency almost always provides a crucial boost. Its benefits are immeasurable: a battle-tested army of aides, ready attention from the media, and that most important political asset of all, access to money.

The investment officers of California's two big public employee pension funds are taking two very different approaches toward investing their huge asset pools--and the results may cost one of those individuals his job. The $68-billion California State Teachers' Retirement System fund, under Chief Investment Officer Tom Flanigan, has become increasingly wary of the U.S. stock market's heights, and has reduced its stake in U.S. shares to 32.9% of total assets from 41.3% three years ago.

The rancor between the Wilson administration's lottery director and the state's controller spilled into the courts Wednesday with the filing of a lawsuit over access to financial records. In an unprecedented action, Controller Kathleen Connell sued the lottery, charging that a decision to deny her auditors access to records has prevented them from performing their constitutional duty to oversee the agency's financial activities.

State Controller Kathleen Connell has formed an advocacy group to lobby legislators and others on behalf of foster children. ''I want to become the muscle for the foster care effort here in California,'' she said. The first order of business: to defend foster care programs in what promises to be a ''particularly brutal budget season.'' Connell, who is serving her last year as controller, said she has not worked out all the details of how the group will operate.