Deukmejian Backs Wright for Reelection to Assembly

Gov. George Deukmejian on Monday endorsed embattled Assemblywoman Cathie Wright (R-Simi Valley) as she prepared for a primary election campaign against fellow Republican Hunt Braly, who has said he will question her ethics and loyalty to the GOP.

“Cathie Wright ought to be reelected. She has been a very staunch supporter of ours and very helpful and cooperative, and she does an effective job for her district,” Deukmejian said.

Deukmejian made his comments outside a $100-a-head fund-raising dinner at a Simi Valley hotel attended by more than 300 cheering Wright supporters. Wright said she expected to raise $40,000 to $50,000 from the event.

Deukmejian’s endorsement came as Wright braced for what could be a strong challenge in the June, 1990, GOP primary election from Braly, chief of staff to state Sen. Ed Davis (R-Valencia). Braly, who is expected to have Davis’ endorsement, said he has raised $65,000 for the race since late May.

Braly announced that he was seeking Wright’s seat in May after Wright became mired in allegations that she used her political clout in an effort to persuade authorities to go easier on her and her 24-year-old daughter after they received traffic tickets.

10-Week Probe

After a 10-week probe, Ventura County Dist. Atty. Michael D. Bradbury concluded that Wright “demonstrated a clear pattern” of attempts to get preferential treatment for herself and her daughter. However, he said the assemblywoman committed “no clear-cut criminal violations” that would warrant prosecution.

Among other allegations, Bradbury’s 97-page report cited several instances in which Wright was said to have tried to get police to void tickets issued to her or her daughter, Victoria. It also said Wright discussed two of Victoria’s speeding citations with a judge at his home the day before he dismissed both tickets in exchange for Victoria attending traffic school.

In addition to the ticket-fixing investigation, Cathie Wright absorbed a significant amount of political flak in December, 1988, when she refused to oppose Assemblyman Willie Brown’s (D-San Francisco) reelection as Speaker, antagonizing many fellow GOP lawmakers.

Most members of the Assembly Republican caucus lined up behind Assemblyman Charles M. Calderon (D-Whittier), one of five dissident Democrats who repeatedly voted against Brown. Wright, however, abstained--the only Assembly member to do so in the tight speakership vote.

Wright explained that she promised constituents she would never vote for a Democratic Speaker, but her abstention sparked a failed attempt by angry Republicans to remove her from the powerful Assembly Rules Committee.

It was later revealed that Brown provided Wright with the name of a lawyer to help with her daughter’s ticket problems. The Speaker also telephoned a Ventura County judge about the younger Wright in March, 1988, urging him to be lenient with her for driving without a license.

‘Huge Boost’

One GOP lawmaker, who asked not to be identified, said Monday that the governor’s endorsement constituted a “huge boost” for Wright in her battle against Braly, who has promised to question her links to Brown and her ethics during the campaign.

Noting that Deukmejian is the party’s leader and that his “personal ethics have never been questioned,” the legislator said the governor’s blessing “reduces the two key vulnerabilities Wright has among Republicans--that she’s not a loyal Republican and that she’s unethical.”

But Braly attempted to minimize the significance of the gubernatorial endorsement, saying that Deukmejian routinely makes campaign appearances on behalf of GOP incumbents. He added that he does not think endorsements have much effect on how voters cast their ballots.

Wright denied that the governor’s appearance was an effort to offset possible political damage resulting from Bradbury’s allegations or the Brown controversy.

“He offered to come so I took him up on his offer,” she said. “I’m just thrilled because the governor of the state of California is coming to my hometown, Simi Valley.”

Deukmejian declined to comment on the ticket-fixing inquiry. Asked by reporters if he thought Wright was in trouble politically, he said: “Based on legislative accomplishments, she shouldn’t have any problem getting reelected. But she does know you can’t take anything for granted. You have to work hard, and you have to have adequate resources, and I’m happy to be here to help her.”