Capitol Tiff Drives Home Point That Not Everyone Enjoys Peace’s Style

Steve Peace, the Chula Vista assemblyman and film maker who amused the world with “Attack of the Killer Tomatoes,” was entertaining legislators in Sacramento last Thursday, but state Sen. Alfred Alquist (D-San Jose) was not laughing.

The 32-year-old Peace, a prolific and energetic legislator with a notorious sense of humor, was joking with Assembly Speaker Willie Brown that he was in trouble with Alquist, a powerful state senator, and the problem was getting worse.

“Alquist just found out that a pedophile is not a foot doctor,” said Peace, as both men enjoyed a chuckle.

On Friday, Peace heaved a sigh of relief because Alquist and he were talking civilly again, after the two had exchanged an angry barrage of obscenities Tuesday in a Capitol corridor. Peace called Alquist “a pitiful little creature,” but a Republican state senator misinterpreted Peace’s remarks and reported to Senate leaders that he had said “pedophile.”

Alquist responded by calling Peace “a 14-karat asshole” and later suggested that he seek psychiatric help. By Peace’s account, Alquist, at 77 the oldest member of the Legislature, put his arm around Peace’s shoulders at one point and said, “You’ve got some problems.”

The confrontation began when Peace demanded to know why the Senate Appropriations Committee, which is chaired by Alquist, had killed a measure proposed by Peace to spend $3 million for school buses for handicapped passengers. It ended with a vow from Alquist and other Senate leaders that none of Peace’s 20 bills still pending would pass the Senate before the Legislature adjourns on Friday.

Among those who know Peace, there was little surprise when they heard about the two-term Democrat’s tussle with the influential Alquist.

According to Chula Vista Mayor Greg Cox, “Steve probably doesn’t have a normal political style, which is not to say that his particular style is wrong. He certainly is a very effective debater who is able to communicate well, in a very direct and pointed manner.

But, Cox said, “It’s probably this directness that sometimes works against him.”

Cox added that Peace’s political character “doesn’t allow him to go through the normal pleasantries,” the feigning and posturing that politicians are known for, particularly when dealing with their own kind.

“He goes straight to the issue at hand. He is a very intense, hard-driving individual. When he believes in something, he doesn’t hold anything back,” said Cox.

Peace alluded to this on Friday, when he said that Alquist “is not used to having people fight back.” But speaking somewhat tongue-in-cheek, Peace said that in hindsight he should have walked away from the confrontation and permitted Alquist “to hurl invectives.” In the next breath he grinned and said, “I’ve also applied for sainthood.”

Although Peace is known as a thorough, effective legislator, others in Sacramento also consider him something of a showboat who takes himself too seriously. Capitol insiders say that Peace talks too fast and too much and thinks he is smarter than everybody else.

Legislators and lobbyists alike say that Peace’s comedic manner, which is very much a part of his political style, has become an annoyance in Sacramento.

“It was amusing for about the first 10 minutes (he was in Sacramento),” said a lobbyist who has known Peace for about seven years. “Since then, it’s become an irritant.”

Peace won the 80th Assembly District seat in 1982 and ran unopposed for reelection last year in the huge district that includes National City, Chula Vista, San Ysidro and much of the southern portion of San Diego County, as well as all of Imperial County.

Fernando Sanga, the Brawley farmer who was defeated by Peace in the 1982 primary, complained that instead of debating the issues at candidate forums Peace would tell jokes. After losing in the primary, Sanga turned around and endorsed Peace’s Republican opponent.

“He made jokes about everything. . . . Losing to a clown made me really bitter. If I had lost to a good person, I would have helped him out. But this guy’s a clown,” said Sanga.

Despite his joking manner, Capitol observers say Peace is an intelligent politician thoroughly schooled in political infighting. Before being elected to the Assembly, he served as an aide to state Sen. Wadie Deddeh when Deddeh held the seat. And before that, he served in a similar capacity for former Assemblyman Larry Kapiloff.

Peace’s effectiveness was demonstrated in May when he pushed through an amendment that blocked an attempt by Alquist to put a nuclear waste dump in Peace’s district.

Assembly Democrats formulated the amendment to Alquist’s bill, and picked Peace to get it through. Some critics accused Peace of grandstanding when he argued repeatedly that he would not allow the dump in his district, and the amendment infuriated Alquist and led to the current dispute by moving the senator to kill the school bus bill, said Peace.

Peace’s colleagues said he can usually be counted on to support the Democratic leadership on crucial votes. But Monica Neville, acting press secretary to Brown, said that Peace has broken ranks with Democrats on farm issues, a fact that is not lost on Mike Wallman, manager of the Imperial County Farm Bureau.

“Most of the (Democratic) leadership sides with Cesar Chavez, but Steve has worked closely with us and is an excellent assemblyman. He’s got a political talent for keeping everybody happy, and he doesn’t dance to Willie’s (Brown) tune,” said Wallman.

Then, in a reference to the movie Peace made, Wallman said: “That was only one side of the tomato picture. Steve has learned a lot about tomatoes since he began representing Imperial County farmers.”

Peace’s squabble with Alquist has brought him much criticism from members of his party, but he also has his defenders in Sacramento. Some Capitol observers are critical of Alquist for exacting too much retribution from Peace.

“He’s (Alquist) got kids older than Peace. Who does he think he is?” asked one lobbyist who did not want to be identified. “It really is too bad, because Alquist is a great guy and Steve was on his way to becoming a great guy.”

Peace said he has been assured by Senate President Pro Tempore David A. Roberti (D-Los Angeles) that the dispute will be settled by Monday when he expects to sit down and talk with Alquist.

But in case there is no resolution, Peace said he has made contingency plans to get his legislation passed in the Senate. One plan being considered is to have Peace’s bills introduced as amendments to other legislators’ bills.

But Sen. Marian Bergeson (R-Newport Beach), one of the most persuasive legislators in Sacramento, said that would be hard to do. Peace had asked her to include in one of her pending bills his measure that would forgive a $240,000 debt owed the state by the Imperial County Fair.

“It is hard to find a bill (to amend) at this late date,” said Bergeson.

And Alquist, when asked late last week how Peace might get any of his bills through the Senate, smiled and said, “He just has to get the necessary votes.”