New Board

A bill to abolish the RTD picked up much needed support Tuesday from a batch of major changes in the legislation that turned former foes into supporters, including Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley. The Senate late Tuesday by voice vote adopted a series of amendments sought by Bradley and other local elected officials, including one that bars any state legislator from serving on a powerful new transportation "super-agency" board.

Was it hypnosis, witchcraft or the full moon? What else could have happened Oct. 6 to cause the county's supervisors to take leave of their senses and approve a contract with the county executive that requires a 4-1 vote to reject a candidate for a department head position? Department heads have primary responsibility for implementing county policies established by the supervisors. When an individual is proposed for a department head position, I would expect each supervisor to carefully evaluate the candidate's character, integrity and preparedness to carry out the board's policies.

Congratulations to the newly elected directors of the Santa Margarita Water District. The voters have given you a clear message and mandate for change; going forward, the board must be responsive and responsible. We cannot afford nor will we tolerate past arrogance and abuse of authority. The failure to act quickly and decisively upon discovery of irregularities in district management and operations was an insult to the landowners and residents who pay handsomely for inefficiency in this utility.

Sizzler International Inc., operator of Sizzler and KFC restaurants, will reduce the size of its board following efforts to downsize and reorganize its business. Sizzler, based in Culver City, said its board voted to cut the number of members to seven from 10 and accept the resignations of three. Those resigning include H. Wallace Merryman, a former chairman and 29-year veteran of the board; Peter H. Dailey, chairman of closely held Enniskerry Financial Ltd.

When the Time Warner Inc.-Turner Broadcasting System Inc. merger is complete, the new company's broad will consist of Time Warner's current directors plus Ted Turner and one member he will name at a later date. TIME WARNER Gerald M. Levin J. Richard Munro Merv Adelson Beverly Sills Greenough David T. Kearns Lawrence B. Buttenwieser Edward S. Finkelstein Carla A. Hills Henry Luce III Francis T. Vincent Jr. Reuben Mark Donald S. Perkins Richard D. Parsons Michael A. Miles Raymond S.

Monica Garcia was reelected Monday as president of the Los Angeles Board of Education, but not until after one board member alleged that politics and backroom manipulation sometimes put the interests of adults ahead of students. Garcia ascended to the presidency last year as the most senior member of a new board majority aligned with Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. On the other side was Marguerite Poindexter LaMotte, who survived a reelection campaign in which she was targeted by the mayor's allies.

Jakks Pacific Inc. agreed to meet with Oaktree Capital Management, the investor that reiterated last week its interest in acquiring the toymaker. Jakks shares surged. Jakks also approved a tender offer to buy at least $80 million of its shares for at least $20 each, and will add two independent directors, the Malibu toy company said today in a statement disclosing it will meet with and provide information to Oaktree. Jakks rose as much as 11 percent. Jakks also entered into an agreement with Clinton Group Inc., a New York-based hedge fund, that gives it approval of new board members in exchange for supporting current directors.

Breaking his silence, at least on paper, Butterfield Equities Corp. president Donald Endresen hinted that little may be left of his company since government regulators seized its subsidiary, Butterfield Savings & Loan Assn., last month.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger replaced most members of the state Board of Registered Nursing on Monday, citing the unacceptable time it takes to discipline nurses accused of egregious misconduct. He fired three of six sitting board members -- including President Susanne Phillips -- in two-paragraph letters curtly thanking them for their service. Another member resigned Sunday. Late Monday, the governor's administration released a list of replacements.