If Warren Furutani is elected to the City Council on Jan. 17, he would bring to six the number of former members of the state Legislature who took the demotion to serve in City Hall.

Except that it's not really a demotion. Members of the Los Angeles City Council are paid $178,789 annually and can serve up to 14 years if they are first elected to fill a vacancy, as would be the case with Furutani. Most members of the state Assembly and Senate get $95,291 (those in leadership positions get slightly more); Assembly members can serve six years, senators eight. True, if all the chips fall just right for a state lawmaker, he or she can squeeze out as much as 15 years from the Capitol, but that would involve switching legislative houses and other inconveniences.

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