Under pressure

S.J. CAHN

Last week, Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce president Richard Luehrs

had this to say about California’s governor: “I’ve been going to

Sacramento once or twice a year for the last 20 years, and I’ve never

seen it as focused on one individual, specifically the governor. Both

sides of the aisle are just in awe of his tenacity, his ability to

draw people together and his focus on fixing the California economy.”

There is little doubt about it: Like him or not, Arnold

Schwarzenegger is the most remarkable politician (and I mean

politician, not legislator, lawmaker, governor or even actor) to come

along in some time. He’s Gary Hart surviving a trip on the boat

“Monkey Business.” He’s John McCain without being isolated from his

party.

But why?

A large part of the answer, I think, is that he’s free of the

worry and timidity of many politicians who are brought on by having

to keep lobbyists, other politicians and voters happy.

What’s the worst, really, that could happen to Schwarzenegger? He

could follow in Gray Davis’ footsteps and get recalled and then ...

well, then he’s back to his multi-million-dollar career as an actor

and businessman. And that other life is more appealing in many ways

than politics.

Of course, at this point any comparisons between Schwarzenegger

and his predecessor are pretty far-fetched. And that is probably by

design.

“I think the contrast between Davis and Arnold Schwarzenegger is

something history will look at,” said 70th Assemblyman John Campbell,

who’ll be running for state Senate this fall and is one of the

governor’s legislative confidants.

“[Davis] tried very hard to offend no one, which is very

interesting because he ended up offending everyone,” Campbell

continued.

Schwarzenegger, he said, wants to be the “anti-Davis.”

“He wants to do things that are bold, things that are unexpected,”

Campbell said. “He’ll do things that surprise enemies and friends.”

And the governor is able to do that in part because he doesn’t

have to be beholden to anyone, Campbell said. He’s free of the

pressures many in Sacramento face.

“Those pressures can be everything from making political enemies

that are powerful or well-funded to trying to please everyone ... and

all the way to job security,” added Campbell, who -- given his own

successful business background -- has a degree of freedom, as well.

“I definitely feel I have the freedom to tackle the issues I want

to tackle, and if I make a powerful enemy, so be it,” he said.

“There’s no point to having the job if you’re not doing something

with it.”

There are others, he went on, who are concerned, however. And it’s

frustrating when he sees them having to compromise what they believe

to avoid problems.

Campbell’s been fortunate to be in a fairly safe seat. His likely

successor, Republican Chuck DeVore, said he sees the 70th District as

a place where “you can vote your conscience.”

DeVore, who is now running in the general election after surviving

the GOP primary, said he’s in the process of getting to know various

corporate leaders and others as he runs for office.

“I feel to be under no pressure whatsoever,” he said. “I don’t

look at that as pressure.”

DeVore added that he believes he has a clear enough political

philosophy -- revolving around encouraging the free market and

reducing taxes and government regulation -- that he can’t be swayed

by outside forces.

“For me, it’s what I spend my time on,” he said. “You can only be

productive so many hours of the day.

“The bottom line is you’re the people’s representative,” he said.

* S.J. CAHN is the managing editor. He may be reached at (949)

574-4233 or by e-mail at s.j.cahn@latimes.com.