Bradley Raps Governor’s Education Record, Calls Him ‘Tag-Along’

Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley assailed Gov. George Deukmejian’s record on education Wednesday, calling his political rival a “follower” and “tag-along” in an area that the governor insists has been one of his highest priorities.

Bradley made the remarks before a receptive crowd of about 1,000 students during a noon rally at California State University, Sacramento.

“We have heard during the past 3 1/2 years statements from the incumbent governor that he is a friend of education,” Bradley said. “He has provided more money, but he doesn’t say to you that he has vetoed more education bills than any governor in the history of this state.”

Bradley said Deukmejian rejected major educational funding bills during his first year in office, and it took an “embarrassing surplus of riches” before he “gave in” and began funding school programs.

“And then he embraced them, claimed them as his own. He didn’t admit these were ideas offered by others that he had vetoed just a year earlier,” the Democratic gubernatorial candidate said, prompting the crowd to break into loud applause.

“He has not admitted to you that he is not a leader, but a follower, a tag-along,” Bradley continued.

The Republican governor’s campaign press secretary, Kristy Flynn, rejected Bradley’s statements. “Gov. George Deukmejian has poured more new money into public schools and colleges than any California governor in nearly 20 years,” she said.

But Bradley cited figures from the National Education Assn. that rank California as 27th among states in terms of money spent per pupil and as worst in terms of classroom crowding. And he said that despite the additional spending, the educational system is “not a mark of pride for this great state.”

“I don’t want anyone to conclude that just because he has put in a little more money (for education) that he has somehow done his job,” Bradley said.

During a press conference after his campus appearance, Bradley also attacked Deukmejian for rejecting a bill Tuesday that would have extended bilingual education programs until 1992.

“How are they (non-English-speaking students) going to develop their lives fully and effectively if they’re going to be crippled at an early stage because they’re not able to resort to bilingual training?” he asked.