POLITICIAN WATCH : Staying Too Long

After a long political career, retiring Los Angeles County Supervisor Pete Schabarum is not about to go gently into that good night. But he’s not going out with much consistency, either.

Even as he uses his considerable cache of leftover campaign funds to push Proposition 140, an overly punitive and restrictive initiative to limit the terms of public officials (vote for the reasonable Proposition 131 instead), Schabarum is holding onto his office for as long as he can. So long, in fact, that the pleadings of fellow Republicans that he step down and allow his longtime deputy, Sarah Flores, to replace him have turned to thinly veiled threats.

Because he no longer lives in his old district, in apparent violation of state law, some GOP loyalists are lobbying Gov. George Deukmejian to oust Schabarum. And the governor is thinking about it!

All this comes about because a voting-rights lawsuit against the county is still on appeal. As long as it remains in court, Schabarum stays in office--despite the fact that he’s announced his resignation, despite the fact he doesn’t live in the district and despite the fact Flores was the top vote-getter in the June election to replace him!

Far be it from us to spoil all the fun political junkies are having with this “Perils of Pedro” serial, but there is a simple solution to all of this that we’ve suggested before. Schabarum should be a gentleman and resign so Flores can be appointed in his place. It would be in keeping with the spirit of Proposition 140.

C’mon, Pete, put your mouth where your money is!