‘Gang of 5’ Say They Oppose Lungren : Dissident Democratic Assemblymen Show Unity With Liberals

A group of dissident Assembly Democrats challenging Speaker Willie Brown’s leadership tried to downplay their differences with the liberal wing of the party Thursday by declaring their opposition to the confirmation of Republican Rep. Daniel E. Lungren as state treasurer.

Four members of the so-called “gang of five” called a Capitol press conference to announce that they intend to vote against Lungren when his confirmation comes up before the Assembly, expected late this month or early February. The Senate is expected to begin committee hearings on Feb. 1.

They indicated that they did not want to be “pigeonholed” in the same category with Republicans, who are expected to solidly support Lungren’s nomination by Gov. George Deukmejian.

Meanwhile, Assembly Minority Leader Pat Nolan of Glendale insisted that he has made “no deals” with the five Democrats to try to overthrow Brown as lower house leader.

Nolan said he is waiting for a GOP majority to be achieved at the polls or at least a more solid coalition to try to accomplish the same thing. The Democrats control the Assembly by a 43-36 margin, with one vacancy. It takes 41 votes to be elected Speaker.

But within a few hours, Nolan gave the “gang of five” a helping hand by keeping alive their move to challenge Brown by trying to withdraw a stalled AIDS testing bill from committee for a showdown floor vote.

Afterwards, Nolan argued that he wasn’t challenging Brown because the GOP caucus strongly favors the AIDS testing bill and his party colleagues had requested him to take the action. Asked if he felt that Nolan was challenging his authority like the “gang of five,” the Speaker replied, “Not at all.”

On the treasurer question, Assemblyman Gary A. Condit (D-Ceres), who earlier was stripped of a committee chairmanship as punishment by Brown, charged that the governor “snubbed” the San Joaquin Valley by not picking Senate Minority Leader Ken Maddy of Fresno to replace the late Democratic Treasurer Jesse M. Unruh, who died of cancer last August.

Sen. Maddy would have been “an easy confirmation,” Condit said, emphasizing that Lungren is from the governor’s home town of Long Beach.

“Mr. Lungren’s record in the civil rights area is dismal,” said Assemblyman Rusty Areias (D-Los Banos), who also lost his committee chairmanship in a Brown disciplinary move.

Deukmejian told reporters at a Sacramento Press Club luncheon that Lungren is “superbly qualified” to be treasurer and is an “individual of great integrity,” adding, “I am hopeful and optimistic he will be confirmed.”

The governor also said: “I never said nor do I expect that he will have a unanimous vote in both houses. I expect there will be some who will choose to vote against him.”

An undated letter previously sent to Maddy, endorsing him for state treasurer and signed by the “gang of five,” plus Assemblyman Jim Costa (D-Fresno), reportedly was one of the things that originally angered Brown because it complicated his negotiations with Deukmejian over the nomination.

Reorganization Sought

In brief, the quintet, who prefer to call themselves “the five amigos,” argue that they basically want Brown to reorganize the Assembly so bills that have strong public support do not die in committee.

Nolan called an early morning coffee-and-doughnuts session with news reporters to answer questions on his role in the Democratic mini-revolt.

“It’s stupid to get involved in what is an internal Democratic squabble,” he said. “We are not upholding a Brown speakership. When there are enough votes to elect a stable Republican Speaker, we’re going (for it). Until then, it’s just an intramural squabble on their part.”

“The turmoil in their party makes it more possible for Republican gains. So we’re obviously not despondent at the thought that they are fighting. But we are not going to get involved in their squabble.”

Longevity Record in Sight

Asked if he felt the Brown regime is coming to a close, Nolan said: “It’s really impossible to tell. I think anything can happen from this point on.”

Brown is scheduled to break Unruh’s seven-year, three-month, six-day longevity record as Assembly Speaker on March 7.

The move to withdraw the AIDS testing bill from committee could come up next week. It is sponsored by Assemblyman Steve Peace (D-Chula Vista), another member of the “gang of five.”

The measure would require testing of people arrested on charges of prostitution. If the AIDS test turned out to be positive, and the tested person subsequently was arrested and charged with prostitution, the crime would become a felony instead of a misdemeanor offense.