Deukmejian Favors September Primary : Elections: Governor’s remarks throw another card on the table in the push to change California’s political calendar.

Gov. George Deukmejian said Wednesday he supports the idea of moving the June state primary election closer to the November general election as a way of reducing costs and shortening political campaigns.

Responding to a question at a press conference, Deukmejian said he likes the idea of a September state primary. He recalled that when he was a state senator, he had proposed legislation to do just that, but the bill failed to pass. “I don’t think it even got out of committee,” the Republican governor said.

Deukmejian’s remark about a September primary for state elections throws another card on the table in discussions about changing California’s political calendar.

The issue has arisen because of legislation that would shift the 1992 presidential primary from June to March. Proponents argue that California’s June presidential primary is now so late in the year, the state has little clout in selecting the nation’s chief executive.

A bill to change the presidential primary has sparked a second debate about whether state elections should also be moved to March, left where they are now in June--or switched to September, as Deukmejian suggested Wednesday.

The governor indicated he has been informed that a two-house legislative conference committee will consider a later primary for state races. The committee’s main purpose is to reach a compromise on bills to move up the presidential primary.

Some Republican lawmakers and Deukmejian have argued that a combined primary would only serve to lengthen the campaign for state offices and raise the cost of campaigning.

Others, like Senate President Pro Tem David A. Roberti of Los Angeles, say a split primary will be too costly to taxpayers, who would have to foot the bill for an additional election.

“There are some problems, but I would not describe it as a dead issue,” Deukmejian said of the idea of a March presidential primary.

The Senate is expected to approve a presidential primary bill today, with the understanding that the measure will go to the legislative conference committee to try to fashion a compromise acceptable to legislative leaders and Deukmejian. The Assembly has already passed a bill calling for a combined primary.

Asked if he would veto a combined early primary bill if one reached his desk, the governor said, “I’d like to reserve judgment on what I will do or not do. I want to allow legislative leaders to meet and consider this in conference committee, and I will have further discussions with them.”

Deukmejian was in San Francisco to reaffirm his support for GOP attorney general candidate Dan Lungren during a fund-raiser luncheon.