Brown Strips Committee Posts From 4 in ‘Gang of 5’

A day after breaking the Assembly speakership longevity record, Democrat Willie Brown disclosed Tuesday he had administered the coup de grace to four of the dissident “Gang of Five” Democrats by stripping them of their remaining committee assignments.

Assemblyman Gerald R. Eaves (D-Rialto) was the hardest hit, losing spots on the Finance and Insurance, Ways and Means, and Utilities and Commerce committees. In addition, Eaves was ousted as chairman of a select committee on aviation and as assistant majority floor leader.

“It was not something I didn’t expect,” Eaves said. “I am surprised it took (the Speaker) so long, but we will continue to do the things we have been doing (to challenge his leadership).”

Assemblymen Rusty Areias (D-Los Banos) and Gary A. Condit (D-Ceres), earlier removed from key committee chairmanships by Brown, were each dropped from membership on two other lower house panels.

So was Assemblyman Steve Peace (D-Chula Vista), who also was removed as chairman of a joint legislative oversight committee on radioactive disposal and waste management.

The fifth dissident, Assemblyman Charles M. Calderon (D-Alhambra), apparently was left on two committees for the time being as Brown continued his game of keeping his opponents guessing. But Calderon had lost committee clout during January’s initial round of political bloodletting.

The Gang of Five has challenged Brown’s leadership on a number of issues, including the fate of several controversial bills that had been pigeonholed in Democratic-controlled committees.

The rebel Democrats joined forces with Republicans to obtain lower house approval of measures to require AIDS testing of convicted prostitutes and prohibit the sale of pornographic materials from vending machines in public places frequented by minors.

After Brown’s first crackdown--which he characterized as streamlining Assembly operations rather than punishment--the dissidents began pushing for power to curtail the Speaker’s authority to discipline members who oppose him.

Ironically, all five “gang members” stood up and applauded Brown on Monday when he was given a standing Assembly ovation for breaking the late Jesse Unruh’s longevity record by serving as Speaker for seven years, three months and seven days.

One lower house member who did not stand up or clap was Assemblyman Phillip D. Wyman (R-Tehachapi), who lost a committee chairmanship in a 1986 dispute with Brown over a bill to require parental consent for teen-age abortions.