Davis Aide Braly Files to Run Against Wright for Assembly

Hunt Braly, state Sen. Ed Davis’ top aide, has become the second Republican activist to file papers to oppose embattled Assemblywoman Cathie Wright (R-Simi Valley) in the June, 1990, primary.

“We continue to get encouragement from people,” said Braly, 34, who is expected to be backed by Davis (R-Valencia). “The keys will be a grass-roots campaign and raising money.”

Braly, who sent his intent-to-run statement to the Fair Political Practices Commission on Friday, can now start raising campaign funds. He moved from Woodland Hills to Wright’s heavily Republican 37th District last week when he purchased a condominium in Valencia.

Sixth Term

Wright, 60, has said she will seek a sixth term despite controversy over her efforts to intercede for her daughter, who was in trouble with authorities over her driving record.

Wright declined to respond directly to Braly’s action, but her administrative assistant, Catherine Morrison, said, “She says she’s looking forward to a spirited campaign, and in the meantime, she’s just going to concentrate on her legislative duties.”

Braly’s decision, however, drew immediate fire from Bob Larkin, a Simi Valley businessman who previously declared his intent to challenge Wright.

Larkin, who is first vice chairman of the Ventura County Republican Central Committee, said Braly should step down from his post as administrative assistant to Davis.

Larkin said running for office while representing Davis in the 19th Senate District--which largely overlaps Wright’s Assembly district--would be a “conflict of interest.”

Braly, a lawyer, said he does not plan to leave his $52,848-a-year post with Davis until he formally becomes a candidate in February.

“I’m fully aware that some people will say that’s a conflict,” Braly responded. “I don’t think there’s any reason for me to give up my job to raise some money on my own time and explore the possibility of running. . . .

“As I go through the district, people will clearly delineate when I’m campaigning and when I’m doing the job for Ed Davis and the constituents he represents.”

Attending Meetings

Braly has been highly visible in recent months in the populous Santa Clarita Valley, attending meetings on a proposed state park, transportation issues and a proposed landfill. Davis recently said this would be his aide’s strongest base in a far-flung district stretching from Lompoc and Solvang in Santa Barbara County, to Simi Valley in Ventura County and to Santa Clarita and the Antelope Valley in Los Angeles County.

Larkin, 52, said the presence of both himself and Braly in the primary would help Wright by dividing the votes of those opposed to the veteran assemblywoman. He said he hoped that one of the challengers would ultimately withdraw.

“He has the obvious advantage of having had the last couple of years as a field man for Ed Davis, and most of the districts overlap,” Larkin said of Braly. “He has the disadvantage of never having lived in the district, which I have. And I have the name recognition in Simi Valley, which has the biggest block of voters.”

Braly said he plans to focus his bid on Wright’s ties to Assembly Speaker Willie Brown (D-San Francisco); her well-publicized efforts to keep her much-ticketed daughter out of jail and behind the wheel, and transportation, education and land-use issues.

Raising Money

Braly said he hoped to raise $200,000 for the race. Even if he reaches this goal, he said he expects Wright to outspend him by more than 2 to 1.

Morrison said Wright’s fund-raising, including a May 19 event, has gone well. She did not provide a figure.

In a related development, Assemblywoman Marian W. La Follette (R-Northridge), a Wright adversary, said in an interview Tuesday that she would not support Braly or any other primary challenger in the 37th District, which borders her 38th District.

“I’m going to remain neutral in the campaign, whatever evolves,” La Follette said. “I just don’t think it’s appropriate for other members of the Legislature to become involved in primaries.”

At the same time, she said, “I am a strong supporter of open primaries.”