Not ‘Weirdo Creationist,’ Bergeson Says : Education: Nominee for state schools chief tells Assembly panel her religious beliefs would not influence curriculum decisions.

Gov. Pete Wilson’s nominee for state schools chief defended her views Thursday, saying she is not a “weirdo creationist” who would try to revise the school curriculum to reflect her religious beliefs.

In testimony at the start of an Assembly select committee hearing where she faced tough going, Sen. Marian Bergeson (R-Newport Beach) said: “I’m not sure that I even know what creationism is. I guess I can fairly be described as a religious person, as the term is normally used.

“However, I understand, as I’m sure you do, that there is an important distinction between religious doctrine and curriculum.”

Assembly Speaker Willie Brown (D-San Francisco), who is opposed to Bergeson’s nomination, claims that she has a religious agenda including fostering a belief in biblical creationism.

Brown said before Bergeson was nominated that he wanted a Democrat to get the job.

“I would be willing to bet that some of you subscribe to a religious view that some 2,000 years ago, Jesus was born of a virgin,” Bergeson told the committee.

“However, I doubt that if you were superintendent, or for that matter, a high school biology teacher, that you would endorse overhauling the curriculum for the human reproductive cycle to reflect that interpretation.”

Wilson nominated Bergeson, a Republican, as superintendent of public instruction to replace Bill Honig, who was convicted of felony conflict of interest charges.

If confirmed by both houses of the Legislature, Bergeson would become the first woman to serve as state schools chief. However, her nomination will fail if she is rejected by either house. With Brown’s opposition, the Assembly may be her downfall.

Confirmation requires 41 yes votes in the 80-member Assembly, which includes 47 Democrats and 31 Republicans. This means that the governor must obtain votes from at least 10 Democrats willing to buck their powerful Speaker.

Another Assembly committee hearing on Wilson’s nomination is scheduled to be held April 19 after lawmakers return from their Easter recess. At that time, supporters and opponents are supposed to testify. A lower house floor vote is anticipated April 22.

If the nomination reaches the Senate, Bergeson should have an easier time. She will need 21 votes for confirmation in a house made up of 22 Democrats, 14 Republicans and two independents.

Speaker Brown claims that Bergeson, 67, a former teacher and school board member, is not committed enough to fighting for more state school funds and helping minority students.

Bergeson said she believes the reason for Brown’s opposition is that “he doesn’t want me to be superintendent because he wants to keep partisan politics inserted into a nonpartisan position.” She also defended her civil rights legislative voting record.

There were several sharp exchanges during the 4 1/2-hour Assembly committee hearing.

Assemblywoman Delaine Eastin (D-Fremont), chairwoman of the Assembly Education Committee, questioned Bergeson at length about her votes on education legislation.

In reply, Assemblyman Richard L. Mountjoy (R-Arcadia) charged that Eastin had a conflict of interest because she has expressed interest in running for the state school chief’s office next year. Assemblywoman Gwen Moore (D-Los Angeles) responded by charging that Mountjoy had lobbed a “cheap shot.”

Assembly Republican leader Jim Brulte of Rancho Cucamonga said: “I just wish we could get off partisan politics and get back to Sen. Bergeson’s qualifications.”

In her opening remarks, Bergeson said: “There are few who can match my qualifications to serve as superintendent. No one has really even questioned them. What objections that have surfaced have clearly been driven by partisan politics.”