Tucker Death Clouds Brown’s Hold on Post

The death of Assemblyman Curtis Tucker (D-Inglewood) touched off a scramble Monday to succeed him and further complicated efforts by Willie Brown to retain his beleaguered speakership.

Tucker, 70, who was being treated for liver cancer, died Sunday morning at Daniel Freeman Hospital in Inglewood. But it is too late to remove Tucker’s name from the Nov. 8 election ballot. Tucker had been favored to easily defeat Republican Michael Davis in the heavily Democratic 50th District.

Should Tucker win, his seat still would not be considered vacant until the Legislature reconvenes Dec. 6, the secretary of state’s office said. Gov. George Deukmejian could then call for a new election to be held early next year. Several candidates, including Curtis Tucker Jr., the assemblyman’s son, already are lining up for the contest.

Other Possibilities

And, there is the remote possibility that Davis or a last-minute write-in candidate could win the November contest, also making a special election unnecessary.

Including Tucker, Brown had counted 39 Democratic Assembly votes in support of his speakership. Before Tucker’s death, Democrats close to Brown privately said the Speaker hoped to gain a 41-vote majority in the 80-member lower house by picking up two new seats Nov. 8, and by Tucker living long enough to vote for Brown when the Legislature returns in December. But Tucker’s death changed Brown’s arithmetic.

On Monday, the San Francisco Democrat acknowledged that an absence of one vote will “make it difficult” to retain his speakership. Brown maintained that his strategy for staying in power has been built on winning two targeted seats now held by Republicans Paul E. Zeltner of Lakewood and Wayne Grisham of Norwalk and a third that had been held by Republican Richard Longshore until his death earlier this year.

“I’ve always operated on the theory we would elect three Democrats and win three new seats,” Brown said Monday.

The Speaker minimized the impact of Tucker’s death on his future leadership and maintained that “we were trying to get more than 41 votes. We were not just going to bed with 41.”

Looking for Gains

Assemblyman Richard Katz (D-Sepulveda) also said that Democrats have aimed at winning three seats, in part because they knew about Tucker’s declining health. Katz acknowledged that Tucker’s death “makes it more important that you win three seats.”

One Republican lawmaker who asked not to be identified said that Tucker’s death has dealt a major setback to Brown. “I think Willie’s going to be hurt,” the lawmaker said. “He’s got to look for another vote now.”

Brown’s leadership has been under assault for most of 1988 because five rebel Democrats have challenged his authority. At times, the five--Rusty Areias of Los Banos, Gary A. Condit of Ceres, Charles M. Calderon of Alhambra, Steve Peace of Chula Vista and Gerald R. Eaves of Rialto--have helped form a majority with the Assembly’s 36 Republicans. But the death of Republican Longshore in June left both sides without a clear majority.

In a move possibly designed to break up the rebels--known as the “Gang of Five”--three Democratic assemblymen have begun to pump campaign contributions to Eaves. Eaves said on Monday he has received $5,000 from Assemblyman Pat Johnston of Stockton, $2,000 from Assemblyman Phillip Isenberg of Sacramento and $1,000 from Assemblyman Robert J. Campbell of Richmond.

Eaves said the contributions “could be an offering of the olive branch. I’m the Democratic nominee. They’re interested in keeping a majority of Democrats in the Assembly.” He said he had made no commitment to support Brown in exchange for the campaign contributions.

Support for Son

Meanwhile, in the race to fill Tucker’s seat, Brown said he will support the assemblyman’s son. Brown said Tucker’s “fondest dream was to have his son fill his seat and I’m going to help him try and realize that dream.” The younger Tucker, 34, is an aide to Assemblywoman Gwen Moore (D-Los Angeles).

Other potential candidates include Inglewood Mayor Edward Vincent, Inglewood Councilman Daniel Tabor and Lois Hill-Hale, a member of the Inglewood school board.

Tabor, who was soundly defeated by Tucker in the June Democratic primary, said he is exploring the possibility of a write-in candidacy for November as well as running in a special election. Caren Daniels-Meade, a spokeswoman for the secretary of state’s office, said Tabor has until next Tuesday to qualify as a write-in candidate.

Tabor mounted the most serious challenge to Tucker since he was elected to the Assembly in 1974. Tucker served as chairman of the Assembly Health Committee and was known for his combative style. He was also known as one of the most avid black jack players in games played in a lounge off the Assembly floor. One GOP lawmaker who sat in on the games recalled: “He just loved the game. He didn’t give a damn whether it was for $500 a hand or 50 cents.”

Funeral services for Tucker are planned for 9 a.m. Saturday at St. John’s Catholic Church in Inglewood, with burial at Holy Cross Cemetery in Inglewood. Tucker’s family suggested that contributions be made to the American Cancer Society.

Times staff writers Jeffrey L. Rabin and Sebastian Rotella contributed to this story.