Ross Johnson Wanted to Know Who Would Replace Speaker : New Caucus Chief Irked by Brown Ouster Plot

Assemblyman Ross Johnson of La Habra was livid.

A fellow Republican had just proposed that the GOP join with a group of rebel Democrats to dump Assembly Speaker Willie Brown from his powerful post. But Johnson, no fan of Brown, saw the effort as fruitless unless Republicans could learn in advance who would replace the San Francisco Democrat.

His colleague’s proposal, Johnson said with a scowl, was “not only foolish but cowardly.”

The blunt appraisal was typical of Johnson, a hard-charging, outspoken conservative who has never been one to hide his feelings.

Johnson, 49, was elected Thursday to lead the Assembly Republican caucus, a position that will require him not only to unify his party’s members but also to negotiate with Democrats on controversies. His success or failure in the job may depend on whether he can control his quick temper and sharp tongue in the heat of battle.

Several legislators interviewed Thursday said they believe that Johnson is up to the task. They said he has matured since being elected to the Legislature in 1978 as a dogmatic conservative bent on bashing Democrats. He still bashes Democrats, they say, but he smiles more when he’s finished.

“He has his flash point,” said Assemblyman Mike Roos (D-Los Angeles). “But you find that it is of the moment. It’s not a permanent condition. He has become more involved in the passion of the ideas than in the personalities.”

Another Democrat, Assemblyman Richard Katz of Sepulveda, said that Johnson can be confrontational but is a good negotiator.

“Ross is competent, intelligent and hard-working,” Katz said. “He’ll be a respectable adversary.”

Republican Stan Statham of Oak Run opposed Johnson’s bid for the job but said that he will give the Fullerton native the benefit of the doubt.

“I believe he will try to bring the caucus together, but only time will tell,” Statham added.

Johnson won the leadership post on a 20-11 vote over Assemblyman Bill Jones of Fresno after Assemblyman Pat Nolan of Glendale quit the job. Nolan is a subject of the FBI’s investigation of Capitol corruption and was criticized for failing to make progress toward electing a Republican majority in the Assembly.

Johnson gave few details Thursday about how he intends to run the caucus. He said he will keep most of Nolan’s staff but added that he has not decided who his top lieutenants will be.

“We will be meeting with every one of the members of the caucus over the next couple of weeks, spending a couple of hours with each of them, talking about the kind of caucus operation they want and how we can design a caucus that will be most effective in achieving our goals.”

The son of a union laborer, Johnson worked his way through Cal State Fullerton as an ironworker. He received a law degree from Western State University College of Law in Fullerton.

Johnson was elected to the Assembly in 1978 after working several years for two other legislators. He ran a low-key primary election campaign and virtually was ignored by his four opponents until he hit them with a last-minute fusillade of campaign mailers.

He has rarely been ignored since.

In the Legislature, Johnson has been an ardent advocate of the death penalty and was a key player in the campaign to oust former California Chief Justice Rose Elizabeth Bird. Johnson has argued that the criminal justice system would be much more effective if first-time offenders were given jail or prison terms rather than put on probation, which he believes only encourages them to commit crimes again.

Johnson has also pushed doggedly to change the state’s campaign finance laws, and he was a co-sponsor of Proposition 73, which was approved by the voters in June. The measure limits contributions and bans the transfer of campaign money from one politician to another.

Since he has been in the Assembly, Johnson has helped two other Republicans obtain the party leadership job even while aspiring to the top post himself. And he said he would have supported Nolan had he decided to keep the job he had held since 1984.