Maddy Forced to Look Over His Shoulder

Senate Republican Leader Ken Maddy has been a legislator for nearly 23 years and says he still gets “high” on negotiating, debating and passing bills. Yet, he admits, going to work these days isn’t quite as much fun.

And one reason is that there’s a unique rookie making a move on his job. Sen. Rob Hurtt (R-Garden Grove) is unique because not only is he a colleague of legislators, to some he is a patron.

Hurtt, 49, a container manufacturer with a conservative social agenda--anti-abortion, anti-gay rights, pro-school vouchers--contributed $765,387 last year to political causes, mostly GOP legislative campaigns. In all, nearly $1.3 million was donated through a new political action committee founded by Hurtt, Allied Business. “No other PAC had a greater effect on the outcome of the 1992 legislative open seat races,” says Common Cause.

And that, notes Sen. Tim Leslie, a Republican from Lake Tahoe, “gets him some deference. . . . Rob certainly fits the old saying about being willing to put his money where his mouth is.”

Maddy also is unique--a legislator who is inarguably classy. On any rating of “best legislators” by journalists, lobbyists or lawmakers, Maddy would rank near or at the top. He is a skillful negotiator, highly articulate, pragmatic and widely knowledgeable, as well as conscientious and honorable.

If there had been more Maddys in the Legislature--or had he personified the institution in the public psyche--voters three years ago probably would not have invoked term limits.

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But Maddy comes from an area, Fresno, that is off the beaten path of the major news media, especially television. And that is particularly unfortunate for him, because there is no California politician who is more telegenic, even at age 59. “If I had Maddy’s looks, I’d be President,” the late state Treasurer Jesse M. Unruh used to say.

Maddy also is not an ideologue who stirs controversy and attracts news coverage. He is a mainstream centrist, leaning left on social issues (for abortion rights and gay rights) and tilting right on fiscal matters (pro-business and queasy about tax hikes).

If there has been a rap on Maddy, it is that he lacks fire and savors the leisure life (raising horses, playing golf); he is not sufficiently ambitious.

He ran once for governor, in 1978, and finished third in a bitter GOP primary. He was burned by opposing Proposition 13, the property tax cutter, and by admitting he twice had smoked marijuana. He was ready to run for treasurer in 1990 had then-Gov. George Deukmejian named him to replace Unruh. But Deukmejian didn’t, citing the old marijuana admission as “a negative.”

“That was a bitter disappointment,” Maddy says. “When I didn’t get that, I sort of just backed off and said now I have more time to share with the family.”

Not enough, however, for Maddy’s second wife, Norma Foster, wealthy heiress to the Foster Farms chicken business. She would rather that he stayed home. Maddy plans to run for reelection anyway next year and acknowledges, “we’re having difficulties. A commuter marriage is difficult.

“But I just can’t lay on a beach. I can’t just play golf every day. . . . The majority of time I still enjoy coming to the Capitol. It’s a great challenge and a lot of fun--the excitement of the debate, the issues, getting things done.”

Still, he adds, “it’s not as much fun as it used to be. There are far more partisan fights. There are more internal fights. You’ve got to look over your shoulder, worrying about some faction within your own caucus.”

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Hurtt won a landslide special election in March in his first bid for office. He avoids answering whether he wants to oust Maddy, but has been cornering Republicans, talking about the need to become “a unified, cohesive force” against Democrats.

“Ken has been around here a long time. I’m not sure we have many projects getting us anywhere,” Hurtt says. “Does he have the fire in the belly anymore? . . . I’ve been asking people if they’re interested in considering it seriously. They’re a little bit on edge. I don’t have anybody saying yes or anybody saying no. They’re talking between the lines.”

There will be another special Senate election on Tuesday that could influence this power struggle. Hurtt is backing Shasta County Supervisor Maurice Johannessen against former Assemblywoman Bev Hansen (R-Santa Rosa), supported by Maddy.

“If (Johannessen) doesn’t win,” Hurtt says, “I’ll probably shut up and be quiet.”

Regardless, says Sen. Leslie, a conservative, “I don’t see any changes taking place. Ken does a real good job.”

Besides, Hurtt should learn his way around the Legislature before trying to become one of its leaders. And he could begin by taking lessons from Maddy.