District Breakup Backed

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger believes that the Los Angeles Unified School District is “too big and inefficient” and he supports Los Angeles mayoral candidate Bob Hertzberg’s call to break up the school system.

Margita Thompson, the governor’s spokeswoman, confirmed Wednesday night that the Republican chief executive supported Hertzberg’s approach.

“The governor believes that the district is too big and inefficient,” she said. “We need to bring more accountability into the system, and by having smaller districts it will better serve the local communities.”

Thompson declined to comment about whether the governor would work toward breaking up the school system -- the second-largest in the country.

Although the mayor of Los Angeles has no authority over the school district, Hertzberg has made breaking up L.A. Unified a centerpiece of his campaign for the city’s highest office. He has not provided any details. He has said he wants to leave that to a task force that he would appoint if elected.

“During the rush of a mayoral campaign, it’s difficult for us to have a detailed discussion about what kind of system will work best,” Hertzberg said recently.

The former Assembly speaker, now a Sherman Oaks attorney, is sharply critical of the district’s performance.

His political rivals have dismissed Hertzberg’s breakup call as a cynical ploy to get votes, particularly in the San Fernando Valley, a hotbed of sentiment for dismantling the district.

Hertzberg is friendly with the governor and served as an unofficial emissary to legislative Democrats early in the governor’s term.

Schwarzenegger told The Times recently that he would not endorse a candidate for mayor in the March 8 primary election.