Gray Davis to Run for Lieutenant Governor

State Controller Gray Davis announced his candidacy Wednesday for lieutenant governor, saying he seeks to become “an ambassador of hope” to help turn around California.

Assuming the stance of a Sacramento outsider, the veteran Democratic politician assailed leaders of both major parties for failing to solve the state’s economic problems.

“For most of the last decade, other states were preparing themselves for the economic competition of the 90s,” Davis said. “But California’s leaders--Republican and Democratic--sat back, cocky and complacent, in the false conviction that our undeniable natural advantages . . . would simply sell themselves.”

Davis, 51, said he would turn the lieutenant governor’s office--historically a political dead-end--into a platform for ensuring that home-grown inventions lead to jobs in California, not in other states or nations.

With his wife, Sharon, at his side, Davis made his announcement to about 50 supporters, including half a dozen lawmakers, and in front of a banner that read, “Gray Davis, Bring California Back.”

Davis is unopposed by any major candidate in the Democratic primary in June. With nearly $2 million in his campaign treasury, he appears to be the early favorite against two lesser known Republican candidates for the post being vacated by Democratic Lt. Gov. Leo T. McCarthy, who is retiring from politics.

Vying for the GOP nomination are Assemblyman Stan Statham of Oak Run, who has proposed dividing California into three states, and Sen. Cathie Wright, a veteran Simi Valley lawmaker.

Davis seemed to be sharpening his lines for the fall campaign, aiming his barbs at Republican Gov. Pete Wilson and his GOP predecessor, George Deukmejian. He said the state’s sagging economy was made worse by 11 years of Republican governors “who believed that state government had no role to play in preparing for California’s economic future.”

Asked why he wasn’t running for the state’s top spot, Davis paused and said there were already three well qualified Democrats in the governor’s contest.

Davis, who served as chief of staff to the state’s last Democratic chief executive, Edmund G. (Jerry) Brown Jr., was twice elected to the state Assembly from Los Angeles before winning the controller’s job.

Two years ago, he lost a Democratic primary race for U.S. Senate to Dianne Feinstein.