Opportunities Wilson Just Could Not Miss

Politicians must avoid looking like ambulance-chasers, racing to every emergency in search of publicity. At the same time, political opportunity must be seized.

Besides, elected officials have legitimate reasons to be at the scene of a disaster and in the camera’s eye. They represent the afflicted citizens and hold the power to ease suffering. Even if only a potential for calamity produces the emergency, it can be comforting for a jittery public to hear political leaders say they are doing everything possible to head off a crisis.

“We’re prepared” and “stay calm” were persistent refrains leading up to verdicts in the Rodney G. King federal civil rights trial. The award for best sound bite probably goes to Mayor Tom Bradley for his televised warning to potential rioters: “You will not get away with it, so don’t even try.” Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Los Angeles) also should be commended for her written message to 350,000 constituents in South-Central Los Angeles: “We have to build, not burn . . . live, not die.”

Sound bites are not Gov. Pete Wilson’s forte. But energy, tenacity and hands-on management are. Combine these traits with a couple of facts--California already is in serious trouble and he is in the worst shape politically of any first-term governor in half a century--and it is easy to understand why Wilson began racing around Los Angeles just before the King case went to the jury.

*

California could not afford another image-blemishing urban riot and neither could Wilson, especially if any of the blame were traced to weak gubernatorial leadership. Beyond that, a crisis--even the potential for one--offers a politician the chance to display leadership skills to community leaders and to television viewers.

Darting to churches, National Guard armories, radio talk shows, news conferences and community forums during the last 10 days, Wilson logged more broadcast time than he has since the riots of nearly a year ago.

The governor’s announcement April 9 at the Inglewood armory that he was calling up 600 Guard members “to protect the people and to protect their property” drew 21 TV cameras. Four stations carried his statement live. This is coverage normally accorded only a President.

Wilson also was all over TV screens Saturday after the verdicts were announced--talking about the “fair trial,” assuring viewers that “we do not intend to see a repetition of what occurred last year” and vowing “not only to rebuild Los Angeles, but to build a much better Los Angeles.”

“We must use this as an opportunity to show the world that we don’t just tolerate each other, we take pride in this being the most diverse, cosmopolitan city in the world,” he said.

To the chagrin and amusement of aides, the governor even began working in pitches for reforms of the workers’ compensation system and regulatory process. A main message to worshipers Sunday at the First AME Church was his formula for jobs creation. But he also dropped in a few “praise the Lords.”

“Every crisis is a defining moment for a governor,” notes Steven A. Merksamer, former chief aide to Gov. George Deukmejian. “It’s an opportunity to impress people. It’s also an opportunity for mistakes.”

*

Wilson learned from last year’s riots. He activated the National Guard, but the troops didn’t have their bullets with them. He finally, in effect, kicked them into the streets and later fired the commander.

Since then, the governor has beefed up communication and planning among the State Office of Emergency Services, the Guard, the CHP and local law enforcement. Besides positioning guard troops with their ammunition in various barracks throughout Los Angeles County, 2,200 CHP officers--more than twice the normal number--were on alert in preparation for possible civil unrest.

Wilson was in constant contact with U.S. District Judge John G. Davies, who tipped him off midafternoon Friday that a verdict would be announced Saturday morning. The governor then set up an early evening conference call with state and local officials, including Police Chief Willie L. Williams and Sheriff Sherman Block.

In politics, there can be a fine line between chasing ambulances and going to the rescue. Wilson successfully tread that line and probably boosted himself a bit politically.

Of course, the governor would insist that politics was the furthest from his mind. But it clearly was on the mind of his chief political strategist, George Gorton, who followed Wilson with a film crew--presumably shooting footage for future campaign commercials.

Actually, it really is all one in the same--good government and good politics--when the system is working well. And it seemed to be the last few days.