GOP Putting Pressure on Nolan to Resign

A Republican Assemblyman on Friday urged GOP Leader Pat Nolan of Glendale to resign, contending that Nolan’s involvement in the FBI political corruption probe will damage the party’s chances of success in the November legislative elections.

“Whether an indictment comes down or not, many Republican members feel Pat Nolan’s financial help or endorsement will backfire badly on Republican candidates,” said Assemblyman Stan Statham (R-Oak Run), a longtime Nolan foe. “Nobody in the Capitol carries more negative political weight than Pat Nolan. I want him to step down now.”

In another development, some Assembly GOP members have agreed on a contingency plan to replace Nolan temporarily with Assemblyman Robert C. Frazee (R-Carlsbad) if Nolan is indicted or forced to resign.

“We have 18 folks who have indicated varying degrees of support for Frazee as an interim minority leader,” said Assemblyman Charles Bader (R-Pomona), who disclosed that he too had recently urged Nolan to resign. It takes a majority of 18 votes to elect a minority leader in the 35-member Republican caucus.

Pressure is growing on Nolan to resign in light of the federal probe and a report that Assembly legislative staffers purged state computer files showing they had been working on political races at taxpayers’ expense.

The Sacramento County district attorney also has said Nolan asked staff members to lie to the White House staff on how phony President Reagan endorsement letters were mailed to voters in the 1986 election.

Nolan, who insists he will be cleared of any wrongdoing when the federal probe is concluded, could not be reached for comment on Statham’s call for his resignation.

But Anne Richards, Nolan’s press secretary, said: “Stan is a voice in the wilderness. He doesn’t even have a second to his motion.” As to the prospect of Frazee leading the Assembly Republicans, Richards added: “He’s a nice man . . . but get serious. Pat is still minority leader and still out raising money to help get Republicans elected.”

Bader said his call for Nolan to step down came during a closed-door meeting of the Republican caucus as the Legislature was preparing to wind up its session on Sept. 1. But Bader said the GOP leader refused to quit.

Bader said his request was prompted by “the FBI probe and rumors causing substantial problems as far as our election campaign efforts were concerned.

“Many of us have campaigned against Democratic Speaker Willie Brown because of the need for Assembly reforms,” Bader said. “It’s difficult to make that case if the leadership of our own caucus is under a cloud.”

Assemblyman Bill Jones (R-Fresno), another Nolan critic, said: “If there is an open (leadership) situation, he (Frazee) would be the favorite. All I know is what I read in the papers.” Jones added that it would be “inappropriate behavior” if GOP staffers destroyed computer files as has been alleged.

Asked if he believed Nolan should resign, Jones said: “I’m not going to answer that question. He (Nolan) makes that decision for himself--or 18 other people can make it for him.”

Assemblyman David G. Kelley (R-Hemet) said the contingency plan was developed to block Assemblyman William P. Baker (R-Danville), a Nolan ally, from taking over the GOP leadership post if it is vacated.

Bader, Jones and Kelley declined to identify the rest of the 18 Republicans who are said to favor Frazee.

The GOP hopes to become the majority party in the Assembly by 1991 in order to redraw district lines to the Republicans’ advantage after the 1990 federal census.

Statham called Frazee a “squeaky clean” interim choice to replace Nolan until a permanent Republican leader is chosen after the Nov. 8 general election.

Frazee, a low-key legislator best known for representing his district’s concerns, was vacationing in Paris and could not be reached for comment.