But as voters prepare to go to the polls next week in the mayoral primary, the question is whether any of the other four major candidates would be a better steward of the economy.

At stake is whether L.A. can be more competitive, keeping businesses from fleeing to nearby cities and attracting new companies with higher-wage jobs.

“Los Angeles has to step up into its role as a world class city. We don’t have a high-profile mayor, we don’t have high-profile corporations,” said Larry Kosmont, a local economic development consultant. “We need a mayor who can demonstrate leadership, who can make this city work both on a regional and local basis and as an international hub.”

Unlike 1993, after riots had torn the city apart and the economy was mired in its deepest recession in 60 years, this election comes in the midst of relatively comfortable times. Unemployment is at manageable levels, downtown and Hollywood are engaged in development revivals, and after years of wrangling, the City Council overhauled L.A.’s cumbersome business tax.

To be sure, there are concerns: traffic, housing, education, crime. All play significant roles in shaping the city’s quality of life, which inevitably helps shape the economic landscape. Beyond those specific concerns is the ability to nurture the city’s complex economy, whether it’s pushing developing industries such as biotech or smoothing out an increasingly clogged transportation system.

Not surprisingly, each of the four major challengers to Hahn believes he can do a better job. To varying degrees, each has said he will be more aggressive in recruiting businesses and in clearing red tape to make L.A. a more attractive place to do business.

“It’s a very bright, capable, experienced field of candidates,” said Richard Lichtenstein, a Democratic political consultant and lobbyist who has no ties to any of the campaigns. “Nonetheless, I would be hard pressed to look at any of them and talk about the great achievements they’ve made on behalf of the business community. These are not champions of business.”

Hahn’s record

Hahn himself has defended his economic record and his focus on public safety and housing, which he says are two key ingredients to improving the business climate.

“Turn crime around in L.A. and businesses will come in and invest,” Hahn has said repeatedly. Another favorite line: “Housing is where jobs go to sleep at night.”

In general, crime has been down since Hahn brought on William Bratton as police chief, and the mayor has pushed for an affordable housing trust fund, putting in a cumulative $100 million.

But Hahn has not been nearly as aggressive as predecessor Richard Riordan in luring companies to Los Angeles. Riordan created a group called the Business Team and empowered its head, Rocky Delgadillo, to make deals on behalf of the city. He also used his extensive Rolodex of contacts to call corporate executives directly.