Old Grudges Die Hard : Anti-Jerry Brown Bias Rubs Off on Silberman

A routine act of political courtesy exploded into ugly name-calling Wednesday when a San Diego lawmaker sought permission to name a highway bridge in honor of Richard T. Silberman, a San Diego businessman who was a member of the administration of former Gov. Edmund G. Brown Jr.

The resolution by Assemblyman Larry Stirling, which was ultimately approved on a vote of 57-12, was proof, if nothing else, that old grudges die hard in the state capital, where the Republicans’ enmity for Brown remains as strong today as it was in 1983, when he left office.

Stirling, a San Diego Republican, said he wanted to name the Clairemont Mesa Boulevard bridge over Interstate 15 for Silberman, a prominent Democrat, because of Silberman’s contributions to San Diego and to the state as both a public official and private citizen.

But Stirling’s proposal, similar to others that are approved each week by the Assembly without incident, reminded some of his conservative Republican colleagues of their antipathy for the Brown Administration and anyone connected with it.

Mass Transit Supporter

Silberman, who was secretary of Business and Transportation for Brown and also his Finance Department director, is still associated by some with Brown’s strong support for public mass transit at the expense of new freeways.

Assemblyman Tom McClintock (R-Thousand Oaks) had the harshest words for Silberman.

“Mr. Silberman was one of those Jerry Brown appointees who destroyed the transportation system,” McClintock said. “To name a transportation project after him is like naming a Holocaust museum after Adolf Eichmann,” he added, referring to the Nazi leader who was executed in Israel for his role in planning the extermination of Jews.

Assemblyman Bill Leonard (R-Redlands) added, “Perhaps it is more appropriate that Mr. Silberman’s name be placed on a plaque at some stub-end freeway where people are being killed because we don’t have an adequate and safe transportation system.”

Silberman could not be reached for comment.

Those comments prompted an angry response from Assemblyman Richard Floyd (D-Hawthorne), who said they were “beneath the dignity” of the Assembly and “besmirch a good honest citizen of California.”

Assemblyman Pete Chacon, a San Diego Democrat, added that Silberman is “respected and admired” by many San Diegans. Smiling, he pointed out that Silberman is married to county Supervisor Susan Golding, a Republican.

More Venom Erupts

But that description only prompted more Republican venom, this time from Assemblyman Ross Johnson of La Habra.

“The solution is for the citizens of San Diego to name something that belongs to the city or county of San Diego in his honor,” Johnson said. “We are here to represent all the people of California, and many of us who . . . are familiar with (Silberman’s) present as well as his past activities think it is inappropriate.”

Stirling, who at first tried to make light of the comments by saying he would “name a sound wall” after McClintock, said later that he was offended by his colleagues’ remarks. He said McClintock’s comments were “inappropriate and verged on the outrageous.”

“I know (Silberman) to be an honest, hard-working and dedicated public servant who has given a tremendous amount to the people of California and especially our county, and with almost no thanks,” Stirling said. “I don’t see how anybody serves their governor or serves their state of California and expects to be treated like this. No wonder more people don’t seek public life.”