Wilson Staff to Lose Another Veteran With Aide’s Resignation

SACRAMENTO —  Gov. Pete Wilson is about to lose another longtime adviser from his personal staff, with the pending resignation of political operative Marty Wilson, it was confirmed Wednesday.

The governor on Sunday lost a vital cog in his Administration--as well as a close friend--when communications director Otto Bos, 47, died of a heart attack while playing soccer. Marty Wilson, deputy chief of staff, also is a veteran member of the governor’s inner circle of advisers.

Marty Wilson--no relation to the governor--plans to resign July 1 and become a partner with veteran political consultant Stuart K. Spencer and his daughter, Karen Spencer, in a new Sacramento branch office, they said. As a member of the Spencer firm, Wilson will become a legislative lobbyist and a political consultant. He is expected to play an advisory role in U.S. Sen. John Seymour’s reelection campaign next year, although someone else will manage it, he said.

His departure from Gov. Wilson’s staff will leave Chief of Staff Bob White as the only longtime senior adviser working with the governor on a daily basis. It is a situation that normally does not occur until well into a governor’s tenure, when the “first team” gradually leaves and is replaced by staffers less familiar to the chief executive.

One of Gov. Wilson’s strengths has been his veteran team of advisers. White has been his chief of staff for 22 years. Bos and Marty Wilson both joined Pete Wilson’s staff 14 years ago when he was mayor of San Diego, and gradually earned their way into the inner circle, which also includes political consultants George Gorton and Stuart Spencer and pollster Richard Dresner. But, as is the case with any officeholder, the people Pete Wilson leans on the most for critical advice are those on his personal staff.

Bos had planned to leave the governor’s staff Aug. 1 and form a Sacramento-based consulting partnership with Gorton and Dresner. Marty Wilson, 37, said he also had been planning for several weeks to leave the Capitol and had informed the governor of his July 1 departure date, although that could be delayed because of Bos’ death.

Marty Wilson has been, in effect, the governor’s political director. This has entailed, among other things, representing the governor’s interests on the Republican state and national committees, a role that the aide said he probably will continue. He and Bos also have been responsible for putting together the governor’s daily schedule of public events, a key task that now will be handed to a less veteran staff member.

The gubernatorial adviser dismissed the impact that his departure will have on the governor. “What people don’t understand is that the Wilson political family really is like a family. You may go your own route, but your loyalty really is to Pete Wilson and you’re there within a second if he needs you. . . .