Xavier Becerra

Xavier Becerra strode onstage at his victory celebration and unfolded several pages with names of supporters who had helped him win the 30th Congressional District's Democratic primary. "This is all about human beings," said Becerra, who a moment earlier had been exchanging abrazos with his jubilant supporters. "This was not a race between machines. . . . This is a race that was won because of the human element."

Some days, the main event in this year's Los Angeles elections looks more like a race for schools chief than for mayor. Antonio Villaraigosa unveils an 11-point education agenda. James K. Hahn calls for a special agency to build schools. Steve Soboroff says there should be a board of education in every neighborhood. Kathleen Connell promises to open 60 charter schools. Xavier Becerra wants an education summit. Joel Wachs envisions an expanded arts curriculum.

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.

Shattering the city's previous record for campaign fund-raising, the six major candidates for mayor of Los Angeles reported Thursday that they had collected a total of more than $16 million by last weekend. The latest campaign contribution reports show that commercial real estate broker Steve Soboroff and City Atty. James K. Hahn remain the top two fund-raisers in the crowded field of candidates whose names will appear on the April 10 ballot.

The race for mayor of Los Angeles is off to an early and vigorous start, as disclosure statements filed Monday show that the principal candidates raised more than $2.8 million during 1999, despite aggressive and simultaneous fund-raising by both parties' presidential candidates. Among the would-be mayors, commercial real estate broker Steve Soboroff was the hands-down leader, accumulating almost as much as all his rivals combined with the election more than a year away.

Led by City Atty. James K. Hahn, the candidates for mayor of Los Angeles enter the campaign's home stretch with widely varying resources--in some cases aided by aggressive fund-raising and in others held back by profligate spending. Campaign disclosure reports for the second half of 2000 show that Hahn and businessman Steve Soboroff each had raised about $2.5 million by the end of last year, far outpacing the four other major candidates in the mayoral race.

The Los Angeles Police Department's revelations that its own serious breakdowns helped corruption flourish have divided the field jockeying to succeed Mayor Richard Riordan, as some contenders argue that the LAPD no longer can be trusted to examine itself while others say the city's existing structure of civilian oversight needs to be given a chance to work.

President Clinton released a convicted Los Angeles cocaine dealer from federal prison after influential congressmen and city leaders personally lobbied the White House and the Justice Department to secure his commutation, it was learned Sunday. The concerted effort to free Carlos Vignali included a series of personal contacts between California Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-Los Angeles) and the White House, and correspondence from former California Assembly Speaker Antonio Villaraigosa.

Rep. Xavier Becerra isn't worried that he has less money and fewer endorsements than other candidates running for mayor of Los Angeles. He isn't worried because the lessons he has gleaned from his 11 years in public office are that Things Work Out. Opportunities Arise. The Underdog Surprises People.

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