O’Connell Elected to Key Post in Assembly : Legislature: The new speaker pro tempore and former Oxnard High School teacher enters the inner circle of the Democratic leadership.

Assemblyman Jack O’Connell (D-Carpinteria) on Monday was elected by his colleagues as speaker pro tempore of the Assembly, a top leadership position that establishes him as a key adviser to powerful Speaker Willie Brown.

On a 41-27 party-line vote, O’Connell defeated Assemblywoman Bev Hansen (R-Santa Rosa) to become the Assembly’s presiding officer and immediately assumed his new duties.

The action, which climaxed weeks of speculation about O’Connell’s future, signals that the onetime Oxnard High School government teacher has become part of the inner circle of the Assembly’s Democratic leadership. The other top leaders remain Speaker Brown, a San Francisco Democrat, and Majority Leader Thomas Hannigan (D-Fairfield).

O’Connell, 39, first elected to the Assembly in 1982, succeeds Assemblyman Mike Roos (D-Los Angeles), who is leaving the Legislature to take a job directing a group formed to improve Los Angeles public schools.

O’Connell, whose district includes most of Oxnard, Santa Paula and Fillmore, characterized the presiding officer’s job as “a new challenge for me.” Previously, he served as the assistant speaker pro tempore.

As the Assembly’s parliamentary “traffic cop,” O’Connell said his goal will be “to make sure the house runs smoothly, on time and that we have ample time for major policy debates.”

In an apparent reference to the weeks of speculation about Roos retiring, O’Connell cracked: “I thought Mike would never leave.”

In supporting O’Connell, other Democrats cited his low-key humor and even-tempered demeanor--two traits that could be tested when he attempts to quiet his sometimes rowdy colleagues.

Hannigan, who nominated O’Connell, predicted that the Santa Barbara lawmaker “will level out this house when it’s needed.”

Roos described O’Connell as “basically a very fair person.” Roos said his only advice for his successor is never waver once he issues a ruling.

Previously, O’Connell has said that if he assumed the new position, unlike Roos, he would not become a principal Democratic Party fund-raiser or one of Speaker Brown’s chief political strategists.

Before O’Connell could assume his new duties, Republicans mounted a last-minute effort on behalf of Hansen.

Assemblywoman Tricia Hunter (R-San Diego) said she thought “it’s time to have a woman as part of the leadership.” But with Democrats holding a 47-32 edge over Republicans, O’Connell easily beat back the challenge.

O’Connell’s election was seen by his family “cheering section,” including his wife, Doree, and his mother, Ruth O’Connell Kent, and stepfather, Charles Kent, both of Camarillo.

Doree O’Connell said she advised her husband that when he makes his rulings from the podium to “speak slowly and clearly.”