Ed Davis Will Seek U.S. Senate Seat, Aide Says

State Sen. Ed Davis of Northridge will seek the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate in 1986 and will formally announce his candidacy next month, his campaign manager said Monday.

Martha Zilm, Davis’ longtime campaign manager and the person who will lead his U.S. Senate effort, said Davis would make it official on Feb. 11 at five press conferences around the state.

For several months, Davis has hinted that he would enter the race, regarding himself the best-known Republican in the state capable of defeating the Senate seat’s incumbent, Democrat Alan Cranston, who will seek reelection.

Davis, 68, will likely face a large field of contenders for the nomination, possibly including Rep. Bobbi Fiedler (R-Chatsworth), who said last month that she would seek the nomination and then recanted, explaining that she would decide later.

Other Republicans considering the Senate nomination are Assemblyman Robert W. Naylor (R-Menlo Park), Rep. William Dannemeyer (R-Fullerton) and conservative economist Arthur Laffer.

Cranston Considered Vulnerable

Cranston, 70, who will be seeking a fourth six-year term, is considered vulnerable, at least by Republicans, who viewed his campaign for the Democratic nomination for President last year as weak.

Cranston may face primary opposition from San Francisco Mayor Dianne Feinstein.

Davis, a former Los Angeles police chief, won reelection to a second state Senate term in November, handily defeating his Democratic opponent by nearly 3 to 1. His conservative district includes parts of Tarzana, Canoga Park, Northridge, Chatsworth and Valencia and portions of Ventura and Santa Barbara counties.

Zilm said Davis made the decision to run over the weekend, aided by the responses of fund-raising letters sent early this month to several thousand past supporters and the results of a private poll paid for by Davis. Zilm said the poll indicated that Davis would win the Republican party nomination if an election were held today.

Four years ago, when Davis became a state legislator, his reputation was that of a rock-hard conservative. Today, he remains a staunch supporter of most conservative positions, especially those relating to criminal law. Also, he is chairman of a group promoting President Reagan’s so-called “Star Wars” missile defense plan.

But Davis has also taken positions not normally taken by a conservative, including his vote last year in favor of a bill outlawing employment discrimination against homosexuals. His vote brought criticism from conservative backers, resulting in some loss of support for Davis among them.

Despite the reaction, Davis continued last year to speak out in favor of the measure’s concept. (The bill was vetoed by Gov. George Deukmejian.)

Davis has made no secret of his desire to run for the U.S. Senate, a race that will cost millions of dollars and require extensive statewide campaigning. Davis fought an unsuccessful battle in 1978 for the GOP nomination for governor.

Zilm said Davis has $25,000 in his campaign coffers. Fiedler has said she has $300,000 in the bank.

Zilm said that Davis will start his statewide speaking tour Feb. 11 at Van Nuys Airport at a morning news conference. He then will fly to San Diego, San Francisco and Fresno to make the same announcement. He will end his tour the next day with a press conference in Sacramento.