POLITICS ASIDE -- s.j. cahn

Next year’s state elections likely will be about what color Gray is.

In a talk before the Newport Harbor Chamber of Commerce, Newport-Mesa’s

Sacramento representatives, Sen. Ross Johnson and Assemblywoman Marilyn

Brewer, laid into the new governor for being motivated by politics and

the simple desire to keep his seat.

“It is purely political calculation,” Johnson said of Davis’ positions on

issues ranging from education to “Big Box” retailers. “He is, I believe,

at heart, a political liberal.”

But, while Davis’ cautious political nature helped him take the seat from

Dan Lungren (who Johnson admitted came off as the extreme candidate), it

plays into Republican hands during both policymaking and elections.

“If the spotlight of public attention can be put on issues, that caution

can be used to our advantage,” Johnson said.

Davis has not followed some of the more liberal Democratic proposals,

Brewer added, because he continuously thinks of how such legislation will

play with the moderate voters who elected him.

“Gray Davis wants to be reelected,” Brewer said, pointing to his

opposition to such proposals as the “Big Box” legislation that would have

limited the size of major retail stores such as Wal-Mart and Target. “And

that’s saving the California economy.”

It also might save the GOP in California, which is reeling from losing

the governorship and the not having control of the state Houses.

Judging from Brewer and Johnson’s comments, the GOP plans to get after

Democrats on traditional themes: that the Democrats are anti-business;

that the Democrats are in the pocket of trial lawyers; and that they are

too friendly with unions.

Because of Davis’ political caution, they don’t expect the governor to go

to bat for his fellow Democrats, at the risk of being tied to the left.

Republicans, it seems, are happy for now to have Davis be a pretty mild

shade of gray. It’s the rest of the Democratic party they want to

convince voters is a bright shade of red.

Still, it’s going to be an uphill battle, as both representatives

admitted. In the House, 16 Republicans are being term-limited out, and

money is tight, Brewer said.

In the Senate, things are looking better for the GOP, Johnson said. They

plan strong races for five seats, three of which were recently held by

Republicans.

For Republicans to win those elections, it seems, Davis can rest easy

that he won’t bear the brunt of their attacks.

But he shouldn’t count on being safe when it comes time for his own race.

“My fear is if he’s reelected in four years, he’ll go hog wild,” Brewer

said.

S.J. CAHN is city editor of the Daily Pilot. Send your political news to

him at: Daily Pilot, 330 W. Bay St., Costa Mesa 92627; by fax at (949)

646-4170; or by e-mail to dailypilot@latimes.com. He can be reached at

(949) 574-4268.