Brown Calls for Democrat as Schools Chief : Politics: Although the post is nonpartisan, the Speaker’s comments signal that Gov. Wilson will a face tough fight if he chooses more than a caretaker for the rest of Honig’s term.

Assembly Speaker Willie Brown, signaling what could become a drawn-out fight with Gov. Pete Wilson, said Tuesday that he would only support a Democrat as a replacement for state schools chief Bill Honig.

Brown, a San Francisco Democrat, acknowledged that the office of California superintendent of public instruction is nonpartisan. But Brown insisted that because Honig is a Democrat, the Republican governor should find a Democratic replacement.

“The people elected a Democrat,” the Speaker said at a news conference. “We ought to replace a Democrat with a Democrat.”

Brown’s comments suggest that Wilson will be in for a tough fight if he selects anything more than a caretaker to serve out the remaining two years of Honig’s term. Whomever the governor chooses must have the approval of both houses of the Legislature.

Honig was convicted Friday on four felony conflict-of-interest counts, as prosecutors convinced jurors that Honig oversaw the diversion of $337,000 in state money to a nonprofit educational program run by his wife, Nancy.

Under state law, a constitutional officer convicted of a felony charge is automatically suspended from office without pay. Honig will be stripped of his office once he is sentenced.

Wilson can then name a successor to serve until January, 1995, when Honig’s term would expire. The governor’s choice would take office once the Legislature confirms the nominee, or after 90 days if neither house by majority vote rejects the candidate.

Republicans reacted to Brown’s comments by insisting that party politics should not be a factor.

“This is not about partisan politics,” said Dan Schnur, Wilson’s communications director. “It’s about what’s best for the children of California.”

Even before Honig’s conviction, at least four influential members of the Legislature were considering running for the high-profile office.

At least one current Democratic member of the Assembly--Delaine Eastin of Fremont--is gearing up to campaign for the office. Others said to be interested in the job are Democratic Sen. Gary K. Hart of Santa Barbara, Republican Sens. Rebecca Morgan of Los Altos and Marian Bergeson of Newport Beach, and Peter G. Mehas, former education adviser in the Deukmejian Administration.

Brown said he would support Mike Roos, the former Democratic Assemblyman who heads LEARN, a coalition of business, education and civic leaders formed to overhaul the Los Angeles Unified School District. Roos could not be reached for comment.

Brown said he would not support Maureen DiMarco, a Democrat who is Wilson’s secretary of child development and education and has been mentioned as a possible Wilson nominee.

“He has to appoint a Democrat who can get the votes,” Brown said.

While few doubt that Brown has the power to persuade enough Democratic members of the Assembly to block a nominee, Brown left open the possibility that he would release his delegation to vote as it chooses.

“I don’t think I live or die on anything, except a vote on the Speakership,” Brown said.