Rescue California

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Dems won't vow to keep names off recall ballot

May 31, 2003

SACRAMENTO - As Democrats crank up a campaign to defeat the recall of Gov. Gray Davis, they face internal chaos because the party's other statewide officeholders are unwilling to rule out appearing on the same ballot.

Two months ago, Art Torres, California Democratic Party chairman, asked leading Democrats to pledge to unify behind the governor by not seeking to replace him if the recall reaches voters. No one has taken him up.

"If there is going to be a pledge," Torres said this week, "they need to make it publicly and so far no one has done that."

There is a long list of Democratic gubernatorial hopefuls thought to be interested in running in 2006 if Davis serves his full term: Attorney General Bill Lockyer, Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante, Treasurer Phil Angelides, Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi and Controller Steve Westly.

It's unclear whether they would wait until then if the Davis recall provides an earlier opportunity to run for governor.

The Republican-led recall campaign has until Sept. 2 to collect the signatures of 897,158 registered voters. If it qualifies for a statewide ballot, voters would be asked two questions: whether to remove Davis from office and who should replace him.

Some Davis backers fear that providing any Democratic alternative to him will make it easier to vote to oust the governor from office. And placing multiple Democratic candidates on the ballot could split the party's vote and make it easier for a Republican to win.

In an op-ed article sent to newspapers this week, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., argued that the recall could end up electing a "fringe candidate," who could win with as little as 10 percent of the vote. "What kind of mandate does this give the new governor to move a program through the Legislature?"

Feinstein echoed the themes of the nascent campaign to stop the recall, saying the quest to dump the governor is a misguided attempt to overturn last fall's election and would cost taxpayers at least $25 million.

Some say Feinstein might consider listing herself as a candidate for governor should the recall qualify. She ran unsuccessfully for governor in 1990.

Even she is apparently unwilling to take Torres' pledge. Her spokesman, Howard Gantman, said he couldn't comment on her possible candidacy because Feinstein "doesn't answer hypothetical questions. She doesn't think this will succeed."

For now, that's the official line of potential candidates: The recall won't qualify, so there's no need to talk about possible candidates to replace Davis.

Bustamante, for example, "does not support the recall and (believes) it's premature to talk about his candidacy for a recall election," said spokeswoman Deborah Pacyna.

Even Torres, the party chairman, after asking potential candidates for the pledge, has dismissed their failure to respond.

"It doesn't bother me in any way," he insisted. "It doesn't make sense to make any comments about this because it's not real. I don't believe it (the recall) will qualify."

His top party strategist undercut that optimism this week. Bob Mulholland acknowledged that a cash infusion from Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Vista, makes it likely Republicans will be able to collect enough signatures to place the recall on the ballot.

Right now, Mulholland said, "We represent ... the incumbent, and our focus will be to defeat Darrell Issa's attempt" to qualify the recall.

But, if it reaches the ballot, it seems, it could be a free-for-all within the Democratic Party.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Andrew LaMar covers state government and politics. Reach him at 916-441-2101 or alamar@cctimes.com