Former L.A. Mayor Richard Riordan seems poised to run for the Republican nomination for governor. But with the political climate changing substantially since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, incumbents like Gov. Gray Davis might have an even greater advantage.

Asked last week if he would enter the race, Riordan reportedly told the public affairs council of the California Chamber of Commerce that “I’d be a dirty, rotten, lousy rat if I turned my back on the people who’ve given me several million dollars.”

And the Riordan camp received some good news last week as well: In a September poll conducted by the Field Institute, Riordan came out ahead of Davis in a hypothetical match-up, 45 percent to 42 percent. Seems the public was still seething over Davis’ handling of the energy crisis, even though there were no blackouts this summer.

But that Field Poll was taken from Sept. 7 through Sept. 10 before the attacks in New York and Washington.

“In times of crisis like this, existing government is strengthened, at all levels of government,” said Raphael Sonenshein, political science professor at California State University, Fullerton, who has written extensively on Los Angeles. “This is why it’s now become a hard time for Dick Riordan to run for governor for a seat that is not open because there is an incumbent.”

Republican political consultant Allan Hoffenblum said that Riordan could turn this moment of crisis to his favor, if he focuses on how he led L.A. in the aftermath of the 1994 Northridge earthquake.

“His leadership there was exemplary and he could harken back to that,” Hoffenblum said. “I think that will be especially helpful for him in the primary” against Secretary of State Bill Jones and L.A. investment banker Bill Simon.

Reached for comment, Riordan exploratory campaign officials said it would be “inappropriate” to use the terrorist attacks to speculate on Riordan’s political future.

Blow to Secession?

The attacks in New York and Washington may also have dealt a setback to the prospects for the San Fernando Valley to secede from the city of Los Angeles.

“These attacks disadvantage the argument for secession, at least in the short term,” Sonenshein said last week. “When you think of the consequences of a secession and the steps you must take to ensure revenue neutrality, boy, it seems like a tough time for a divorce in the middle of such a calamity.”

Sonenshein said that instead of looking upon government workers as “the enemy,” people are now more likely to view those same government folks as essential. “It makes the argument that the people in City Hall are just a bunch of thugs out to shortchange the Valley a bit more difficult,” he said.

Wachs Farewell

Of all the times to be heading off to a new job in the Big Apple.

Today is the day Joel Wachs, the longtime populist L.A. City Councilman, takes the helm of the Andy Warhol Foundation in Manhattan.

At a farewell party for him last week thrown by longtime supporters Brian Rix and Bob Burke at their Hancock Park home, Wachs was understandably somber.

“I was there when the attacks occurred and people were just walking around in a daze, not really there,” Wachs said.

But Wachs said he was still looking forward to his new post. “Instead of asking everybody for money, I’m going to be giving it away. That’s a much better feeling.”

Staff Reporter Howard Fine can be contacted at (323) 549-5225, ext. 227 or by e-mail at [email protected].