Feb. 16--MTA IN SPAT OVER LIGHT-RAIL CARS: Ca-CHING!

That's the sound being heard at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, where the first dispute on use of Measure R money is brewing over the purchase of light-rail cars. Measure R is the half-percent sales tax that takes effect July 1.

Metro already has paid nearly $150 million to AnsaldoBreda for 50 rail cars that have been delivered, and the agency has contracts with the Italian company to built 50 more.

But Metro officials claim the company was late and over budget in delivering the rail cars, and it wants to look at reopening the bidding process. With each car costing roughly $3 million, you're talking real money.

The company that calls itself Breda has a plant in Northern California and has promised to build another in Los Angeles.

But Metro officials believe that is simply a ruse to keep the contract and is something the company could have done years ago if it were sincere.

The Metro board is supposed to take up the matter at its meeting later this month.

Campaigns for the March 3 election are in full swing, with millions of dollars being poured into direct-mail ads and TV commercials.

It appears that Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa will spend his entire $2.7 million war chest on his re-election effort, with a barrage of feel-good commercials and mailings under the theme, "Getting Things Done, Bringing People Together."

None of his opponents is expected to come anywhere near him in fundraising or advertising.

And, to skeptics who think the mayor may hold back some money for a run for governor next year, his campaign team says he plans to spend all but what will be needed to close out the accounts at the end of the campaign.

The campaign for city attorney is also heating up. Private practitioner Carmen Trutanich and Deputy City Attorney Michael Amerian have joined the ad wars, and City Councilman Jack Weiss is raising money to continue his TV commercials through Election Day.

Trutanich's mailings including one that mocks Weiss with caricatures and Mother Goose-type ditties titled "The Life and Rhymes of Jack Weiss."

Weiss plans to take the next three weeks off from his job on the council, with excused absences from the thrice-weekly meetings.

Which prompted one critic to ask: "How would you know?"

The local official who is getting the most face time this year is not up for election and, seemingly, has the most to lose if his candidates fall.