Seating at Deukmejian Meals Upsets Some Lawmakers

Seating arrangements at a series of dinners Gov. George Deukmejian is hosting for legislators have drawn complaints from women lawmakers who have found themselves seated at a separate table with the governor’s wife, Gloria.

“I resent it,” said Sally Tanner (D-El Monte) one of 11 assemblywomen and four women senators in the Legislature. “It totally upset me. Clearly, a woman legislator is a second-class citizen as far as the governor is concerned.”

Assemblywoman Sunny Mojonnier (R-Encinitas), who attended the same dinner, said the seating arrangement could have been coincidental, although the absence of women lawmakers from the table at which Deukmejian dined was noticeable.

“I was a little taken aback by it,” Mojonnier said. “As the evening continued, I think all of us were pondering whether it was intentional. I don’t think there was any planning of that, although I understand from others that it occurred at each of the dinners.”

Five dinners with up to 25 lawmakers at each are planned by Deukmejian. Three dinners were held the last two weeks and a fourth is set for Tuesday at the governor’s four-bedroom house in one of the most exclusive areas of Sacramento County, eight miles east of the Capitol.

Although some consider the seating a faux pax showing insensitivity to women, others view it simply as a problem of having too many people for the room.

“I know some of the women were concerned, but I don’t think it was done intentionally as a concerted thing,” said Assemblywoman Cathie Wright (R-Simi Valley).

Larry Thomas, Deukmejian’s press secretary, called suggestions that women were being discriminated against “snide, petty, and I know that it’s wrong. It’s a cheap shot. The placement of people had nothing to do with sex.”

He said the Deukmejians “do not enjoy the kind of residence that permits all or a large number of guests to be seated at a table in a single room.” He said the Deukmejians decided to sit at different tables and trade during dessert.

“I would have thought they’d have shared our wealth and beauty among the tables,” observed Assemblywoman Theresa Hughes (D-Los Angeles). “I thought the purpose was not only to get to know the governor but each other. I enjoyed the dinner very much, and Mrs. Deukmejian is a gracious hostess. But it would have been nicer if some of us had been seated with the governor.”