Katz Studies 1990 Run for Lieutenant Governor

Assemblyman Richard Katz (D-Sepulveda) said Wednesday that he plans to seek the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor in 1990 if incumbent Leo McCarthy does not run for reelection.

“If McCarthy does not file . . . I’ll make a decision to run and not look back,” said Katz, chairman of the Assembly Transportation Committee and a close ally of Speaker Willie Brown (D-San Francisco). But he added, “I’m not going to run against Leo McCarthy.”

McCarthy, 58, who unsuccessfully challenged Republican U.S. Sen. Pete Wilson in November, will announce early next year whether he will seek a third 4-year term, said Stephen Hopcraft, his press secretary. “He really hasn’t made up his mind,” the spokesman said.

Katz, 38, an 8-year Assembly veteran, is the first prominent Democrat or Republican to publicly declare an interest in the lieutenant governorship. His departure from the politically competitive 39th Assembly District in the northeast San Fernando Valley probably would set off a free-for-all in both parties to choose a successor.

Other Democrats mentioned as possible candidates for the lieutenant governorship if McCarthy steps aside include attorney Kim C. Cranston, Democratic U.S. Sen. Alan Cranston’s son; Conway Collis, a member of the state Board of Equalization; state Sen. John Garamendi (D-Walnut Grove), and John B. Emerson, chief deputy Los Angeles city attorney.

Sees Hard Fight

Katz said in an interview that he would expect a hard-fought, million-dollar primary campaign without McCarthy in the race. Kim Cranston, in particular, would be a formidable candidate because of his instant name recognition and ability to raise large sums of money, Democratic strategists said.

If McCarthy decides to seek another term, Katz said, he will run for reelection to the Assembly. He was elected to a fifth term with 72.5% of the vote in November.

Either way, Katz plans to keep his options open. He said he plans to establish an Assembly campaign committee next year. This would give him a fall-back position in the event of the unexpected--such as a big-name candidate jumping into the lieutenant governor’s race or enough financial and political support failing to materialize.

“There’s always the possibility in this business of something unforeseen happening,” Katz said.

Under the voter-approved Proposition 73, prospective candidates must name the office they are running for before they start raising campaign money. They will no longer be able to transfer funds between various campaign committees. But the state Fair Political Practices Commission has ruled that politicians will be able to announce for multiple offices.

Katz said he was drawn to the lieutenant governor’s post--one of the least visible and least powerful statewide offices--because it would offer the opportunity to help solve problems that concern him, such as transportation.

Post Termed Important

“An activist lieutenant governor can accomplish a lot,” he said. He noted that the lieutenant governor’s duties include sitting on the State Lands Commission and as a regent for both the University of California and the California Community Colleges.

Katz said he has “talked to some individuals who have been supportive” about a prospective bid for lieutenant governor but declined to name them. He said peaker Brown was not among those he had consulted.

Although he has been a prolific Assembly fund-raiser, Katz has received considerable political action committee money because of his policy committee assignments--particularly on Finance and Insurance--and because he was targeted for defeat by the GOP. Still largely unknown outside of the Valley, he would face a major test to raise the huge sums needed for a statewide race.

Katz said he would seek to portray himself as an “environmental activist and fiscal conservative.” He has won reelection by increasingly large margins in a Democratic-leaning but conservative district by voting with the Democratic majority on most issues but establishing a tough stance on crime and aggressively providing services to constituents.

Attorney James D. Rendleman, a Granada Hills Republican who opposed Katz in November, said Wednesday he plans to run again in 1990 whether Katz is in the race or not. Robert F. Thoreson, a Los Angeles police detective who challenged Katz in 1984 and 1986 and was Rendleman’s campaign chairman, said he would be interested in the seat if Katz departs.

The Democratic primary probably would attract several candidates, possibly a Latino or black, political observers said. No clear front-runner is apparent.