Wilson to Appoint Successor to Fill Out Honig’s Term

Even before the jury on Friday found Bill Honig guilty in his conflict-of-interest trial, the scramble was on to succeed him as state superintendent of public instruction.

Since winning the job in 1982, Honig has turned the nonpartisan post into a bully pulpit for education. Last year he announced he would not seek a fourth term in June, 1994.

The nature of the campaign to fill Honig’s job in the 1994 election will depend on whom Gov. Pete Wilson appoints to succeed him.

Wilson’s office had no comment Friday and is not expected to rush a decision on an appointee.

Among those likely to be considered for the $102,000-a-year job are Republican state Sens. Rebecca Morgan of Los Altos and Marion Bergeson of Newport Beach; Maureen DiMarco, the governor’s education adviser, and Peter G. Mehas, former Gov. George Deukmejian’s education adviser, according to sources in the Capitol.

Some education lobbyists suggested that it might be difficult for any Wilson appointee to pass muster with both houses of the Democrat-controlled Legislature--unless the candidate agreed only to serve out Honig’s term as a caretaker.

Several Democrats have been weighing a run for the post in 1994. Sen. Gary K. Hart (D-Santa Barbara), chairman of the Senate Education Committee, already has stated his intention to run and has begun organizing a campaign team.

Another leading Democrat weighing the contest is Democrat Delaine Eastin of Fremont, chairman of the Assembly Education Committee. She would likely vie with Hart for the support of the powerful California Teachers Assn.

Honig has elevated the visibility of the education job, prompting lawmakers who are facing term limits to look seriously at the post.

Others who may run include conservative Joseph Carrabino, a retired UCLA management professor and a Honig foe who last year resigned from the state Board of Education. Also looking for a candidate are supporters of the school voucher initiative expected to be on the 1994 ballot.

Times staff writers Paul Jacobs and Daniel M. Weintraub contributed to this report.