Bergeson Defends Wilson’s School Budget : Nominee: She says funding reflects the economy. Though she vows to be an independent education chief, some Democrats predict she won’t be confirmed.

State Sen. Marian Bergeson, Gov. Pete Wilson’s choice to lead California’s public schools, pledged Tuesday to be an independent advocate for the interests of schoolchildren.

But Bergeson, a former kindergarten teacher and an Orange County lawmaker since 1978, defended Wilson’s handling of the education budget and said school funding under the governor has been adequate considering the state of the economy and its effect on tax receipts.

Those views--and her own voting record on education issues--drew immediate opposition Tuesday from the Democratic leaders of the Senate and Assembly education committees and from Assembly Speaker Willie Brown, who predicted that Bergeson will not be confirmed.

Wilson named Bergeson to serve the next 22 months as the state superintendent of public instruction, subject to confirmation by both houses of the Legislature. She would complete the term of Bill Honig, who forfeited the office after he was convicted of felony conflict-of-interest charges.

Bergeson, a Newport Beach Republican, said she intends to run for the office when the current term expires in 1994. She would be the first woman to hold the position.

Although Honig, a Democrat, often clashed with Wilson and his predecessor, former Gov. George Deukmejian, Bergeson said she intends to manage the nonpartisan office as if party affiliation were not an issue.

“There’s not a Republican way or a Democrat way to educate our kids,” Bergeson said as she appeared with Wilson at a suburban Sacramento elementary school. “There’s only a right way and wrong way, and that has nothing to do with politics.”

Bergeson, 67, a California resident since she was an infant, is a graduate of University High School in West Los Angeles and Brigham Young University. She was a schoolteacher and school board member in Orange County before winning election to the Assembly from Newport Beach in 1978. She moved to the Senate in 1984, where she is considered an expert on education and on local government finance.

Although she said she opposes the school voucher initiative scheduled to appear on the June, 1994, ballot, Bergeson as a lawmaker proposed a narrower version that would have allowed children from low-income neighborhoods or low-achieving schools to use taxpayers’ money to pay private school tuition.

Bergeson also worked to overhaul the state’s teacher credentialing system and has been a leader in expanding prenatal care for low-income pregnant women.

As superintendent, Bergeson said, she would challenge Wilson if she disagreed with him.

“I intend to be an independent advocate for our children,” Bergeson said. “If I disagree with the governor about something, I’m going to let him know about it.”

But on the top issue in education today--money--Bergeson has been solidly behind Wilson, and she reiterated her support for him Tuesday.

“I think the governor certainly has shown a strong commitment to education,” Bergeson said.

Last year, Wilson drew the wrath of the schools lobby when he proposed a 1% reduction in education funding at a time when 200,000 more children were expected in the public schools. After a 63-day standoff with the Legislature, Wilson agreed to a compromise that gave schools a $1.1-billion increase--enough to maintain state and local spending at about $4,200 per student.

Democratic state Sen. Gary K. Hart of Santa Barbara, who is chairman of the Senate Education Committee and is expected to be a candidate for superintendent next year, said in an interview that he would oppose Bergeson’s confirmation.

“Marian is a very nice lady, but on the most critical issue facing the schools--education funding--she has dropped the ball,” Hart said.

Bergeson supported Wilson’s budget and opposed legislation to give the schools more power to raise local tax revenues, Hart said.

“This comes at a time when California’s ranking in comparison to other states declined so severely that we just don’t have the resources to do the job,” Hart said.

Assemblywoman Delaine Eastin (D-Fremont), chairwoman of the Assembly Education Committee and another potential candidate for superintendent next year, also said she would oppose Bergeson.

Speaker Brown (D-San Francisco) reiterated his opposition and predicted that Bergeson would be rejected.

“I guarantee you within anywhere from 30 to 45 days the vote will be taken on the floor of the Legislature,” he said, “and we will be on to the business of the next nominee.”

Although Brown had previously threatened to oppose any Republican nominated by Wilson, he tailored his comments Tuesday to the selection of Bergeson. Brown noted that Bergeson opposed him when he was first elected Speaker in 1980 and fought his proposal to force the state pension funds to divest of its holdings in companies doing business with South Africa. He also cited Bergeson’s votes on the budget last summer.

Senate President Pro Tem David A. Roberti (D-Van Nuys) said he had a high regard for Bergeson but did not take a position Tuesday on her confirmation.

Wilson predicted that Bergeson would be confirmed. He said that only partisan politics could explain the opposition from Democrats.

Reaction outside the Capitol was favorable to Bergeson.

The California School Boards Assn., of which Bergeson was president in 1975, praised the appointment.

“She has a record of objectivity and independence, both of which are critical traits for anyone serving in this position,” said Charity Webb, the association’s current president.

California Teachers Assn. President Del Weber said the state’s largest teachers union had worked closely with Bergeson in the Legislature.

“We have not always agreed with her,” Weber said. “We have found her, however, always willing to discuss issues in a frank and open manner.”

Times staff writer Jerry Gillam contributed to this article.