Put ‘3 Strikes’ on June Ballot, Brown Says : Crime: Measure would rival a voter initiative backed by Gov. Wilson. Speaker also raises questions about appointment of acting schools chief.

Assembly Speaker Willie Brown said Tuesday that the Legislature should place the proposed “three strikes and you’re out” measure on the June ballot and let voters decide whether they want to lock up repeat violent offenders for life.

At a Capitol news conference covering several topics, Brown (D-San Francisco) raised questions about Gov. Pete Wilson’s appointment of Republican corporate trouble-shooter Sanford C. Sigoloff of Los Angeles as interim state superintendent of public instruction, but promised the Assembly would give the nominee a fair evaluation.

Brown left no doubt where he thought public opinion stood on the stiff anti-crime proposal. “The majority of both houses of the Legislature and the overwhelming majority of the public are in a mind to put people away forever for jaywalking, period. That is the mentality that is going to prevail.”

He said for that reason, voters should decide the issue and the Legislature should pass a bill to “put it on the June ballot and get it over with.”

The Speaker said his suggestion would work against proponents of a similar proposal--a voter-generated initiative intended for the November ballot--who “want to string it out as long as they possibly can.”

Brown said he opposes the initiative, which calls for sending anyone convicted of a third violent felony to prison for life, because it is unworkable. But he said he favors keeping repeat violent offenders off the streets, and supports increased gun control.

The Speaker said he would not bring pressure to put the “three strikes” issue on the June ballot. “I’m just thinking out loud,” he told reporters.

Mike Reynolds of Fresno, who heads the November initiative effort, said at a news conference he will accept no substitutes.

“We are not going to allow politicians to take this life-and-death issue and turn it into a political football just because this is an election year and they want to get reelected,” said Reynolds, whose daughter was murdered last year by a habitual criminal.

Wilson, who has endorsed the Reynolds initiative, has called a special legislative session on crime to run concurrently with the regular session that started Monday.

In a preview of his annual State of the State speech to be given tonight, the governor said he will ask for more tax cuts, tougher criminal penalties and more help for local law enforcement officers.

Reacting to Wilson’s tax cut reference, Brown said he was open to considering tax cuts, but questioned if any “would be achievable” this year.

Regarding the governor’s appointment of Sigoloff as interim state schools chief, the Speaker said an Assembly committee headed by Majority Leader Tom Hannigan (D-Benicia) will hold a confirmation hearing sometime later this month.

Last year, Brown drew political heat when he said he wanted only a Democrat to get the job. Wilson nominated Sen. Marian Bergeson (R-Newport Beach) to replace Bill Honig, who was convicted on conflict-of-interest charges. Bergeson subsequently was rejected by the Assembly after two confirmation hearings.

The Speaker said he would have to be convinced that the interim appointment of Sigoloff--who would serve until the end of this year--was really necessary. He noted that voters will choose a superintendent in this year’s elections, and congratulated acting Supt. William D. Dawson for doing a good job.

One of the declared candidates for the position is Brown ally Assemblywoman Delaine Eastin (D-Fremont), chair of the Assembly Education Committee.

“It might be incredibly disruptive to have another change (this year),” Brown said. “All of that weighs heavily on my mind. But I have not said I would vote against (Sigoloff). I will not suffer as I did with the Bergeson nomination.”

Times staff writer Dan Morain contributed to this story.