Bradley, Drawing a ‘Distinction,’ Says He Has Never Endorsed Bird

Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley, in a television interview here Friday, said he has never endorsed Chief Justice Rose Elizabeth Bird, even though he served as a co-chairman in 1978 of a committee supporting her and the state Supreme Court justices on the ballot that year.

“I was not endorsing her,” Bradley said in response to a question during the taping of a news program for station KRON.

When a reporter later asked him to explain, he said he was “just trying to make a distinction.”

“The committee was not endorsing,” Bradley said. “I don’t recall, so I’m not going to try to tell you whether I ever said yes or no on support for Rose Bird.”

Pressure to State Stand

Bradley, the Democratic challenger to Gov. George Deukmejian, has been under increasing pressure in recent moNths to state his position on the confirmation of Bird. The chief justice, who was confirmed by a 51.7% “yes” vote in 1978, faces voters again this November.

The debate over whether she should be retained has provoked strong reactions, from those who oppose her repeated votes to overturn death sentences to supporters who say her ouster would threaten the independence of the court.

Bradley was the co-chair in 1978 of a campaign committee supporting Bird and other justices. Before Bradley appointed him deputy mayor, Tom Houston was the campaign coordinator and previously served in the Administration of Gov. Edmund G. Brown Jr. as deputy Cabinet secretary under Bird, who was Cabinet secretary for the Agriculture and Services Agency.

Even before Bradley formally announced his intention to run for governor nearly two weeks ago, he has been dogged by questions about what position he will take on the controversial jurist. He has said he will announce his decision on Bird within the next two months.

Question of Other Justices

During a later KCBS radio interview in San Francisco, a somewhat testy Bradley sought to deflect some of the Bird questions in the direction of his rival, Deukmejian, who has long called for her replacement on the state Supreme Court.

Deukmejian has not yet announced his position on the other three Supreme Court justices up for confirmation--Joseph R. Grodin, Cruz Reynoso and Stanley Mosk.

“I find it interesting that he is not willing to address the issue of where he stands on those others who are up for confirmation,” Bradley said. “If the governor is not willing to say where he stands on the other justices, why is he so anxious that I have to do it (take a position on Bird) now?’

Deukmejian, who also was traveling and campaigning Friday, could not be reached for comment.

Gun Control Position

Bradley, during his television interview, was asked about his change in position from supporting gun control in 1982 to opposing it this year.

“It was not a change,” Bradley said. The mayor said he does not support a gun control initiative on the ballot. “We have to do something about the number of guns in this country and the way they’re being used.”