Colleagues Say Wright Seeking GOP Post : Politics: Any move by the Simi Valley legislator to become the GOP leader would be considered a long-shot bid.

Assemblywoman Cathie Wright (R-Simi Valley) is trying to line up support for a long-shot bid to become the Assembly Republican leader, according to several of her GOP colleagues.

One legislator, who asked not to be identified, said other lawmakers have voiced dissatisfaction to Wright about the performance of Assembly Minority Leader Ross Johnson (R-La Habra) and asked Wright to consider seeking the office.

It was unclear Tuesday whether the effort was instigated by Wright or by others. Wright, who in the past has been aligned with Johnson, declined to comment.

Catherine Morrison, a Wright assistant, said the lawmaker “wouldn’t initiate such a move” against Johnson. Morrison added that she doesn’t “know of anyone who would refuse” to become GOP leader if drafted for the job.

Otis Turner, Johnson’s press secretary, said he was unaware of the reports about Wright. But he said “if there is such a move, it will be short-lived. Ross has broad support in the caucus.”

Even Johnson’s critics in the GOP caucus concede that the odds are slim that Wright and her supporters will prevail. One Republican lawmaker, who asked not to be identified, said, “She is taxiing down the runway but doesn’t seem to be able to get off the ground.”

The legislator said Wright had talked to him and at least several others about unseating Johnson. But he said that even if disgruntled Republicans line up the necessary votes to remove Johnson, Wright would not automatically be elevated to the leadership position.

Johnson has weathered repeated challenges since he became leader in 1988. Republicans voted 23 to 9 in November for Johnson over Assemblyman Bill Jones, a Fresno rancher, who had claimed to have commitments from enough Republicans to oust Johnson. Assemblyman Tom McClintock (R-Thousand Oaks) also failed in an earlier effort to defeat Johnson.

Unlike those attempts, the latest assault on Johnson has been triggered by discontented rookie Republican lawmakers, according to veteran Assemblyman Gil Ferguson (R-Newport Beach).

“All I’ve heard is that the new members are staging what one might call a young-Turk revolt. I think . . . they are dissatisfied with the leadership and want Mrs. Wright to represent them,” Ferguson said.

Ferguson and another legislator said the newcomers are frustrated by a lack of direction from current GOP leaders. Ferguson said the six newcomers--if they were united--could become a pivotal force in any effort to strip Johnson of his post. He said he understands that some rookie lawmakers regard Wright as a mentor and have gravitated toward her.

But several new members reached by The Times said they were unaware of any moves afoot by Wright to oust Johnson. Two new members, Paula Boland (R-Granada Hills) and Andrea Seastrand (R-Salinas), have close ties to Wright. Boland declined to comment. Seastrand said she is not involved in any effort on Wright’s behalf.

Wright, 61, was elected to the Assembly in 1980 and won reelection last year after defeating fellow Republican Hunt Braly in a hard-fought GOP primary. Her 37th Assembly District includes most of the Simi Valley, Ojai and Piru in Ventura County, and the western part of the Antelope Valley, Newhall, Chatsworth, Agoura Hills and Westlake Village in Los Angeles County.