UCLA Labor Center Director Kent Wong is said to be the
frontrunner to replace the head of a major L.A. labor organization,
according to published reports.
The Los Angeles Times reported Saturday that Wong is being
considered to replace Martin Ludlow, the head of the Los Angeles
County Federation of Labor, who indicated Tuesday that he will step
down from his post amid a probe. The federation represents 357
local unions which include more than 800,000 workers in Los
Angeles.
Ludlow is currently facing an investigation involving the
illegal use of union funds during a campaign for City Council in
2003.
He has been accused of receiving secret financial support from a
union in the federation. Investigators for the Los Angeles Ethics
Commission believe $53,000 was illegally used by union leaders to
pay union employees, who were hired to work in order to elect
Ludlow to council.
Others being considered to replace Ludlow include Chief of
Laborers Local 300 Sergio Rascon, State Sen. Gilbert Cedillo, D-Los
Angeles, and Union Leader Maria Elena Durazo.
Jim Hilfenhaus, a delegate to the federation from Laborers Local
300, told the Times that support seems to be coalescing around Wong
because he is “not directly affiliated with any particular
union, and everybody gets along with him.”
The L.A. County Federation of Labor Board will discuss
Ludlow’s replacement Thursday, said Mary Gutierrez,
communications director for the federation.
If appointed, Wong would represent one of the many University of
California leaders appointed to serve city and county positions and
offer personal expertise on public-policy debates.
“UCLA faculty are often called upon to serve on city and
county and other local governments as a reflection of the expertise
that they hold in their particular field,” said Phil Hampton,
a UCLA spokesman.
Wong, along with all other employees in the UCLA Labor Center,
is not currently making any public comments on the speculation
surrounding his possible appointment.
The Times reported Tuesday that prosecutors have offered Ludlow
a plea bargain in which he might escape jail time but could face up
to $181,000 in fines, $81,000 in restitution and a ban on serving
in public office or a union leadership position for more than a
decade.
Though the executive secretary-treasurer has announced his
resignation, he has not yet confirmed when he plans on leaving and
will still remain in office for now.
With reports from Bruin wire services.