Matsui Makes U.S. Senate Run Official

Congressman Robert T. Matsui, a Democrat from Sacramento, made his long-spoken intentions formal Tuesday and announced that he will seek in 1992 the Senate seat now held by the retiring Alan Cranston.

At a press conference in Sacramento and later in a telephone interview, Matsui vowed to press for increased funding to relieve homelessness, fill gaps in health care coverage and improve education.

The congressman, who two weeks ago won his seventh term in the House, said Democrats should push policies that spur greater economic growth, which in turn could make more money available for social programs. But he also endorsed a competing goal for any new federal dollars--cutting the federal deficit.

“You’re not going to institute these things overnight,” he said. “One thing we in Washington have been guilty of is we always look for the quick fix.”

The seat now held by Cranston--who announced his pending departure two weeks ago--is one of two Senate posts up for election in 1992. Also up will be the senator appointed by Gov.-elect Pete Wilson to the seat Wilson now holds. The winner of the Wilson seat will have to stand for election again in 1994, so that the seat can resume its normal six-year election cycle.

Matsui ruled out a run for the two-year seat. His congressional colleague, Democrat Barbara Boxer of Greenbrae said last week she will run for the Senate, but has yet to decide which seat to pursue.

Matsui considered--but did not make--a similar run in 1988 against Wilson. In Congress, he has pressed a more centrist economic policy than many Democrats and has made a name as a pragmatist. He is perhaps best known for a successful effort to pay restitution to Japanese-Americans interned during World War II. Among the internees was Matsui, then a toddler.

Times staff writer Jerry Gillam contributed to this story.