Gray Davis Joins Exodus From Sacramento

This may be California’s official capital, but judging from the example of Controller Gray Davis--the latest in a stream of statewide officials to slip quietly out of town--many California politicians would rather be anywhere but here.

Less than six months after being elected, and after a much-publicized feud with Republican Gov. George Deukmejian over the location of his state headquarters, Democrat Davis has decided to move his principal office to a $3,500-a-month suite on Wilshire Boulevard near Beverly Hills.

Los Angeles, after all, is California’s population center and the home turf of many of Davis’ biggest political contributors. It also serves as the state’s television capital--an important consideration for Davis, who is expected to run for governor in 1990.

Besides, his aides say, Davis has always maintained his residence in Los Angeles, even during his two terms in the state Assembly, and he is not about to change that now.

“The Board of Control asked him to make the designation of his headquarters based on where he spends the major portion of his time,” said Karin Caves, Davis’ press secretary. “Following that to the detail, and being perfectly accurate, that will be in Los Angeles.” Although most state business is conducted in Sacramento, the lure of bigger cities has attracted other officials as well.

Democratic Atty. Gen. John Van de Kamp, a potential rival to Davis for their party’s 1990 gubernatorial nomination, also maintains his headquarters in Los Angeles, as did Deukmejian when he served as attorney general. Lt. Gov. Leo McCarthy, who has declared his intention to run for the U.S. Senate, has his official office in San Francisco, his hometown, as does state schools Supt. Bill Honig.

State Treasurer Jesse M. Unruh and Secretary of State March Fong Eu, who is toying with entering the U.S. Senate race, have designated Sacramento as their headquarters. But both Democrats maintain their principal homes in Los Angeles and spend a large portion of their time there.

That leaves Gov. Deukmejian as the only statewide elected official to keep his main office in Sacramento and spend most of his time, weekends included, in the capital city.

The location of an elected official’s headquarters has some benefits beyond the obvious. Those who designate a city outside of Sacramento are eligible to claim a $75-per-day expense allowance whenever traveling to the capital on official business. In most cases, taxpayers also pick up the tab for airline tickets and hotels.

But Davis said in an interview that he would not claim per diem for trips to Sacramento. Davis now rents a room in the Sacramento home of Sen. Dan McCorquodale (D-San Jose) whenever he stays overnight in the capital.

“It has become clear to me that I will spend about half my time in Los Angeles and I have designated Los Angeles for those purposes,” Davis said. “It’s simply an administrative designation without any fiscal or programmatic consequences.”

But Davis acknowledged that his political career, as well as programs he advocates, could benefit if his main office is in Los Angeles.

“Los Angeles is the biggest city in the state and to reach more people requires a bigger presence in Los Angeles,” he said.

Only one top aide, Noel Gould, who ran Davis’ election campaign and lives in Long Beach, will occupy the 2,200-square-foot headquarters office, west of the La Brea Tar Pits.

The bulk of Davis’ work force will remain in a 19-story luxury office building 10 blocks from the Capitol that was leased by Ken Cory, his predecessor. The office is one of Sacramento’s most expensive. But Davis, who is trying to build an image as a tight-fisted controller, was unable to persuade Deukmejian to allow him to move back closer to the political action.

At one point, Davis threatened to abandon that office with or without permission, complaining that he could not function that far away from the Capitol because he was “outside the information loop.” On Tuesday, however, Davis could not be reached for comment. An aide said he was busy “running the office of state controller”--400 miles away in Los Angeles.