Chick finally pulls her endorsement

Almost from the moment that city controller Laura Chick endorsed Jim Hahn for reelection, she has been making noises about changing her mind. After all, her audits of problems in city departments get little reaction from the mayor, and it was her complaint that launched the federal and local grand jury probes of Hahn's commissioners and contracting practices. Most recently, Chick and the mayor have exchanged public barbs about each other's flaws. So finally, on Tuesday, she withdrew (Times, Daily News) her endorsement, saying she has "lost confidence" in the mayor. This was hardly unexpected, and especially since Antonio Villaraigosa entered the race for next year's election. She supported him last time, and goes way back with Bob Hertzberg. Hahn for his part says he was not surprised by Chick's move.

Also: Ian Gregor in the Daily Breeze has an intriguing story on speculation that Hahn is planning to name labor leader Miguel Contreras to be president of the airport commission. Contreras was a major Villaraigosa backer in 2001, but after Hahn won he sidled up close to the new mayor, getting an appointment to the airport panel. The speculation is that Contreras can have the president's job — and thus an even more key role in labor's favorite project, modernization of LAX — if he commits to backing Hahn. The mayor's office says there is no deal like that on the table.