The Region - News from March 21, 1985

Gov. George Deukmejian challenged Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley to put to rest the issue of the mayor’s political ambitions and declare that he “absolutely” will not be a candidate for governor next year. The governor told reporters in Los Angeles, “Every indication has been that (Bradley) plans to run for governor. If he didn’t plan to run, why doesn’t he say, ‘I’m absolutely not going to run for governor’?” Bradley, seeking a fourth term as mayor, has said he has “no plans” to run against Deukmejian in 1986 but has not ruled it out. He narrowly lost to Deukmejian in the 1982 gubernatorial contest. Contacted on his way back from a trip to the East Coast, Bradley declined to follow Deukmejian’s suggestion and said only: “I’m not running against the governor. I’m running against the candidate for mayor.”