Deukmejian Reschedules Vote to Fill Assembly Seat

Acceding to a request from Assembly Speaker Willie Brown (D-San Francisco), Gov. George Deukmejian on Friday took the unusual step of rescheduling a special election called to fill the Assembly seat left vacant by the death last October of Inglewood Democrat Curtis R. Tucker.

The Republican governor originally set the election for April 11, but moved the date up two months to Feb. 7. Tom Beermann, the governor’s assistant press secretary, said it was the first time Deukmejian had changed the date of a special election after it was announced.

Last week, Brown narrowly won reelection as Speaker. But the governor’s action could provide Brown a boost because he expects to help elect another loyalist to replace Tucker in the heavily Democratic district.

Democratic lawmakers close to Brown were angered by Deukmejian’s original decision, announced last week, to keep the seat vacant until April. The Democrats suggested that their anger might hurt the chances of confirming Deukmejian’s treasurer-nominee, Auditor General Thomas W. Hayes.

Discounted Speculation

Beermann discounted speculation that political considerations entered into the governor’s decision, maintaining, “This was done solely in response to his (Brown’s) concern that the seat would have remained vacant for nine months” if the original election schedule remained in effect.

Besides Brown, state Sen. Diane Watson (D-Los Angeles) and Los Angeles County Supervisor Kenneth Hahn expressed concern to Deukmejian about the original election schedule, Beermann said.

Susan Jetton, Brown’s press secretary, said the Speaker “wanted them to have the election as soon as possible” because “people were going unrepresented since Tucker’s death.”

If no candidate emerges from the Feb. 7 election with more than 50% of the vote, the top Democratic vote-getter would face the top Republican in a runoff April 11.

The real contest is expected to be among Democrats because 77% of the 50th Assembly District’s registered voters are Democrats. The district includes Inglewood, El Segundo, Westchester, Lennox and parts of South-Central Los Angeles.

Won Reelection

Tucker held the seat for 14 years. The district’s voters were so loyal to Tucker that even after his death, he easily won reelection over Republican challenger Michael Davis.

Brown has said he would support Tucker’s son, Curtis Tucker Jr., an aide to Assemblywoman Gwen Moore (D-Los Angeles).

Among others considered potential candidates are Los Angeles City Councilman Robert Farrell, Inglewood Mayor Edward Vincent, Inglewood City Councilman Daniel Tabor, Inglewood school board member Lois Hill-Hale, political consultant Roderick Wright and Ed Johnson, an aide to Rep. Julian Dixon (D-Los Angeles).

In an interview Friday, Farrell said he plans to make a decision on his candidacy by next week. He said the election date change “won’t affect my decision one way or another.”

“I don’t see a quick election working to my disadvantage. It’s an advantage to candidates with name recognition, a base (of support) and resources,” he said.

Parke Skelton, a campaign consultant to Tucker Jr., suggested that the new schedule may force lesser-known candidates from the contest.

“Anyone who can’t raise $150,000 in the next three weeks should probably think about not running,” he said.

Mark Gladstone reported from Sacramento and Sebastian Rotella from Inglewood.