KCOP’s Press’ Bid for Democratic Post Causes Stir : Television: Station officials say if commentator is elected chairman, they will add a conservative commentator. Others say his election would create conflict.

KCOP-TV Channel 13 is trying “to work out a compromise” so commentator Bill Press can remain on the air should he be elected state Democratic Party chairman Saturday. Station officials who asked not to be identified said the compromise would be the hiring of a conservative commentator.

At KFI-AM (640), where Press is the host of a Saturday talk show, program director David Hall said Press would continue on the air there.

In his campaign against longtime activist Steve Barr for the four-year, non-paying chairman’s position, Press has received the endorsements of Sens. Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein, Assembly Speaker Willie Brown and both of the likely candidates for the party’s gubernatorial nomination next year--State Treasurer Kathleen Brown and Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi.

News executives at other television stations said a variety of potential problems could arise if Press wins.

“I would not want someone to be the chairman of the Democratic Party and commentating on my air,” KTTV-TV Channel 11 news director Jose Rios said. “There’s an implied point of view there that I think viewers would be concerned about, and I would be too.”

Said Warren Cereghino, KTLA-TV Channel 5 news director: “No matter what kind of issues he would be involved with, he’s going to be pretty hard-pressed to not get involved with partisan issues, unless he’s only going to deal with nonpartisan issues like potholes in the streets, police response levels, fire department budgets and recreation and park staffing levels.

“Partisanship is the key here. If it’s going to be a partisan issue, and I were handling it, I would say, ‘Hey, we’ve got to get at least one other voice in here.’ ”

Press discounted the possibility of a conflict, calling it a “manufactured problem.”

“For an anchor, yes (it could raise a question of conflict), for a reporter, yes, for a commentator, no,” Press said. “I don’t see any conflict. I’ve been on the air for 12 years. There’s no secret about my politics. There’s no secret about my political party.

“When I first got a job in television, friends of mine said, ‘We’re very concerned that you’re going to trim your sails in order to win friends.’ I didn’t then and I won’t now.”

Press--who, during an Inauguration Day commentary, leaped in the air and planted an American flag on the White House grounds, symbolically reclaiming it for the Democrats after 12 years of Republican rule--stressed his belief that his commentaries are “very seldom” of a partisan nature, citing Monday’s on a minister’s criticism of Jesus being portrayed as white.

“My night job is not to sell the Democratic Party; my night job is to hopefully say something insightful about the most pressing issue of the day,” Press said. “I’m not out there waving the flag of the Democratic Party.”

Press’ election would also put KCOP in the unusual--but hardly unprecedented--position of deciding if or how to cover news events conducted by a station employee. During last fall’s campaign, outgoing Democratic Chairman Phil Angelides was a high-profile participant in several registration drives, get-out-the-vote rallies and news conferences blasting Republican policies.

“People are skeptical enough about media, that we’re really an institution in cahoots with everybody else in the universe,” Rios said. “That only reinforces that skepticism the public has.”

Press dismissed any problems KCOP might face in reporting on him, citing KABC-TV Channel 7’s coverage of news events staged by two of its commentators--attorney Gloria Allred and Susan Carpenter McMillan, spokeswoman for the Pro-Family Media Coalition of Southern California.

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Despite his ties to many of the party’s leaders, Press maintained that he considers himself to be an “independent person,” citing his opposition to some of the Clinton Administration’s plans to close military bases and criticism of President Clinton’s suggestion to segregate gays in the military.

In a letter to delegates to this weekend’s State Democratic Convention, which will select the chairman, Press pledged that his top goals would be the defeat of both Republican statewide elected officials, Gov. Pete Wilson and Atty. Gen. Dan Lungren, and the reelection of Feinstein.

“I think Bill Press does a good job, and I like his commentaries, but I do think you have a built-in conflict of interest,” Rios said. “How is he going to say anything about Pete Wilson doing anything at anytime where you don’t feel like it’s a conflict?”

Press’ past mixture of on-air duties and political activity while at KABC-TV drew fire to that station. California Common Cause, a political reform group, criticized the station in 1987 for allowing Press to give a farewell commentary, a day after announcing he would be resigning to seek the 1988 Democratic Senate nomination. The organization complained again in 1989 when Press was allowed to remain on the air while conducting an exploratory campaign for state insurance commissioner.