Wright Says La Follette Plotting to Oust Her From Panel

Assemblywoman Cathie Wright (R-Simi Valley) on Friday said that her GOP colleague Marian W. La Follette of Northridge is trying to oust her from a seat on the prestigious Assembly Rules Committee.

Several other GOP legislators acknowledged that La Follette has asked them to support an effort to remove Wright, citing her failure to join most GOP legislators in Monday’s vote for Democratic Assemblyman Charles M. Calderon of Alhambra in his bid to force Assembly Speaker Willie Brown from his powerful post.

Rob Wilcox, La Follette’s field deputy, said the assemblywoman would not comment on the matter. He said La Follette believes that the decision on the Rules Committee assignment should “be left up to the individual members of the Assembly, and she’s not going to make a public issue out of it.”

One GOP lawmaker, who asked not to be identified, said he supports the move against Wright because “there is a tremendous amount of resentment in the caucus” over Wright’s action.

Several Republican Assembly members also said that the squabbling between the two San Fernando Valley-area legislators reflects continuing acrimony in their 33-member caucus. They say it could hamper efforts by new Assembly Republican Leader Ross Johnson of La Habra to unify his caucus, which lost three seats in the Nov. 8 election.

Johnson had sought to pressure opposition to Brown among Republicans and several Democrats who were elected in close contests in conservative districts.

But on Monday, Brown was reelected to an unprecedented fifth term as Speaker with the minimum 40 votes. Calderon, who pledged to support reforms to reduce the Speaker’s power, received 34 votes. Johnson, who was not a candidate, won support from three GOP lawmakers. Wright was the lone Assembly member to abstain.

In a meeting of Republicans before Monday’s Assembly session, Wright was selected by her colleagues to be one of four GOP members of the Rules Committee. Wright served on the committee, which directs bills to policy committees and acts as a housekeeping panel, in the last session.

A second GOP legislator, who also asked for anonymity, maintained that as a member of the Rules Committee Wright is obligated to follow the GOP leadership. “In a sense . . . you give up some independence,” he said. “You can’t be going against leadership when you’re on Rules.”

The legislator said that before the vote on the Speaker’s post, some Republicans voiced uneasiness about supporting Calderon, but went along with him as the best alternative to Brown. Wright, he complained, “didn’t say anything. She never said a word. She normally talks all the time.”

When Wright failed to vote on the floor, he said, her GOP colleagues “just kind of had shocked looks on their faces.”

In contrast, Wright said in an interview that she was surprised that her abstention prompted criticism. Wright also said she believed she was on good terms with La Follette, who represents the neighboring Assembly district.

But she said: “There is nothing like finding out one of your colleagues is working behind the scenes instead of letting you know what she’s doing.” Wright, who is beginning her fifth term, said her loyalty as a Republican has never been questioned. “I don’t have to show my Republican colors or my support of the caucus,” she maintained.

“I just couldn’t vote for Calderon . . . because he was a Democrat.

“Before I’ve done anything on Rules, Mrs. La Follette would like to replace me. It looks pretty strange,” Wright said.

No action on the dispute is expected until the Assembly reconvenes Jan. 3.

Times Staff Writer Lynn O’Shaughnessy contributed to this story.