Brown Survives GOP Move to Topple Him

A freshman Republican, saying he was performing “an act of conscience,” Thursday became the first disgruntled legislator to attempt to overthrow Assembly Speaker Willie Brown since the liberal San Francisco Democrat was elected to the post 7 1/2 years ago.

Bakersfield Assemblyman Trice Harvey failed, however, in a dramatic showdown on the Assembly floor. But the effort provided further evidence of Brown’s weakened power and could foreshadow more serious attempts to overthrow him later in the session.

The attempted ouster also comes at a time when Brown’s attention is diverted by his heavy fund-raising and organizing duties as chairman of the Rev. Jesse Jackson’s presidential campaign. The demands are expected to grow as the race moves into California for the June 7 primary.

But Brown showed no signs of concern after Thursday’s vote, defiantly telling reporters his speakership and power remain “intact.”

“When you get 41 votes (a majority), then take my name off the door, it’s the end of my speakership,” Brown declared.

“There’s no beginning as such. You’re a Speaker if you have 41 votes, and you’re not if you don’t. It’s not a dribbling process,” he said.

Harvey, a former pharmaceutical salesman and Kern County supervisor whose 1986 Assembly campaign was highly critical of Brown’s leadership, said he was prompted to move because his GOP colleagues refused to take advantage of a political rebellion under way to topple Brown.

Most Republicans have been reluctant to join with the so-called “Gang of Five” dissident Democrats to move against the Speaker unless they could be guaranteed a Republican would replace Brown. The five rebel Democrats, on the other hand, say they want a more conservative Democrat, not a Republican, to replace Brown.

After delivering an impassioned plea for new leadership, Harvey was blocked by his fellow Republicans, who instead offered a motion to replace Brown with GOP Leader Pat Nolan of Glendale. The motion failed on a party line vote of 41 to 36 after the five rebel Democrats, who have been advocating Brown’s ouster, chose to side with the Speaker rather than help a Republican win the Legislature’s top job.

Assemblyman Gary Condit (D-Ceres), one of the dissidents, declared later that the proceedings were “orchestrated” and not reflective of the strong antipathy that exists within the Assembly for its Speaker.

“I don’t know what the long-term effects will be,” Condit said. “But it shines the light on the leadership of both parties, that they are willing to make any arrangement to protect their own positions.”

Nolan, who contends that Republican election prospects are brightened by keeping a weakened Democratic Speaker in power, declared that the dissidents’ decision to cast their votes with Brown proves that the Gang of Five is “more interested in power than in change.”

If the dissidents are really sincere, Nolan added, “they would sign on the dotted line and become Republicans.”

The action on the Assembly floor was more smoke and mirrors than a serious attempt to alter the balance of power. The drama was carefully scripted so that most of the players could avoid embarrassment, even while scoring political points--all except the five rebel Democrats who were left hanging by the leadership on both sides of the aisle.

Republicans in tough primary races, who are being questioned by their opponents about why they have not moved to oust Brown, got a chance to vote for a Republican Speaker for the first time in most of their careers without the risk of antagonizing Brown.

Brown and his Democratic supporters were able to show they could still win a round against the Republicans and the Gang of Five.

And Harvey, a first term legislator with few perks or good committee assignments to risk, was able to portray himself, in front of a host of local television and print reporters, as a lone man of conscience battling a powerful system.

Debate Climax

“Everyone agreed with me that this can’t happen,” Harvey said as the debate reached its climax. “They said, ‘If you don’t have the (votes), crawl back in your hole. Don’t worry about what’s right or wrong . . . just sit there and be a good boy.’ ”

Overall, the political drama was more like an evening at the pops than a tragic opera as Republicans used the opportunity to rail against Brown’s leadership, but then joked and laughed among themselves, already certain of the outcome.

Brown rarely presides over floor sessions, but he was at the podium throughout Thursday morning, smiling and trading barbs with his attackers. At one point, Harvey told the Speaker his effort to oust him was “nothing personal, just good business from my perspective.”

Replied Brown: “I don’t take it personally.”

Underlying the good-natured banter was the realization that once the motion to oust Brown was made, others might find it easier to take shots at the Speaker. Brown was sufficiently worried that he met privately with Harvey on Thursday in hopes of convincing him to soften his attack.

Biggest Concern

With elections approaching, Brown’s biggest concern is dealing with any unrest within his own caucus, where Democrats are depending on him to help raise money to win primary and general election contests. Brown told reporters earlier this week that he expects to raise more money for Democrats in the Legislature this year than ever before.

At the same time, he has also taken credit for raising more than $1 million for Jackson and will be doing more this month as the presidential campaigns focus on the California primary. That has forced Brown to assure his membership that he will be careful to avoid going to their traditional financial supporters for help in the Jackson race.

Thursday’s debate also served to underscore the divisions in Republican ranks. Although a majority support Nolan’s position to leave Brown in power until a Republican can be elected Speaker, a vocal minority is growing impatient.

Assemblyman Ross Johnson (R-La Habra), a Nolan supporter, characterized Harvey’s motion as “not only foolish but cowardly.”

But Assemblyman Charles Bader (R-Pomona), who backed Harvey’s efforts, warned that if Nolan cannot bring about desired changes, “those of us who are demanding changes will have to look at alternatives.”