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.
All the latest on Orange County from Orange County.
Get our free TimesOC newsletter.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Daily Pilot.