Legislators Praise Hart as a ‘Giant’ in Education : Politics: The state senator, who has served much of the county for 20 years, is lauded for his ethical standards. He retires in December.

State Sen. Gary K. Hart, for 20 years a legislator representing much of Ventura County, on Monday sat through yet another of the lengthy testimonials he’s heard plenty of during his long tenure in the Legislature.

Only this time, the topic was Hart himself.

In an hourlong tribute, more than a dozen senators rose to honor Hart as they bid adieu to the 51-year-old politician who opted for retirement over a run for reelection.

Mostly, Hart was recognized for his role as a leader in the field of education. “He’s been a giant for years for his knowledge of education. The institution is going to sustain a great loss when he leaves,” said Sen. Nicholas C. Petris (D-Oakland), comparing Hart to the democracy fighters of ancient Greece.

Hart’s announcement last year that he would choose family life and a new career over another Senate term or a bid for state superintendent for public instruction came as a surprise to supporters and colleagues.

But Hart said Monday that he was ready for a change, and he found the prospect of another campaign--and more time away from his three daughters and wife--”debilitating.”

“Twenty years is a long time,” he said in an interview. “It’s easy to get burned out. It’s time to move on.”

Though Hart is silent about his future job possibilities after his term ends in December, he says he plans to remain in Sacramento, where his family put down roots some years ago. A former teacher and current chairman of the Senate Education Committee, Hart said he will probably wind up in the field of education.

Several senators who took to their microphones Monday said they were disappointed that Hart bowed out of this year’s race for state schools superintendent, a job being sought by Gov. Pete Wilson’s education adviser, Maureen DiMarco, and Assemblywoman Delaine Eastin (D-Fremont).

“He was my candidate,” said state Sen. Robert Presley (D-Riverside). “I was ready to support him in any way I could. I was sorry he chose not to run.”

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In speeches both eloquent and verbose, senators expounded on the various qualities they saw in Hart.

By all accounts, the Santa Barbara-based Democrat--who last week won recognition for his integrity from the public watchdog group Common Cause--has been revered as an ethical model by fellow senators.

Senate President Pro Tem Bill Lockyer (D-Hayward) recalled that, “Once upon a time, he refused to schedule appointments with lobbyists . . . . He’s been especially concerned about the integrity of the house and the propriety of the process.”

In fact, Hart said, his biggest disappointment in two decades as a state lawmaker is the Legislature’s failure to adopt meaningful campaign finance reform. He praised Lockyer for advancing a bill to provide public financing of campaigns as part of a package of reform.

Hart said that, in his view, the system to elect state legislators is flawed--largely because campaigns have become so expensive. Consequently, too much time is spent raising money and not enough remains to adequately address California’s problems.

One result is that the state’s mounting fiscal woes have yet to be confronted realistically by lawmakers who have found it more politically expedient to roll over California’s debt, Hart noted.

Within the next two years, some combination of tax increases and spending cuts may be needed, he said. “All I know is that there will be a lot of blood on the walls and it will be a difficult process.”

The senators gave a rundown of Hart’s legacy: author of higher education bond measures that freed up $2 billion in funding; architect of landmark education funding reform; backer of the charter school movement; champion of the environment, and more.

State Sen. Ralph C. Dills (D-Gardena) was among the realists as he noted that Hart’s political philosophy at times leaned further left than did his 18th Senate District as a whole.

“You come from a district where you may have to cover up how liberal you are so that you can come back,” said Dills, praising Hart’s skill at striking a balance between his principles and the district’s politics.

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The district, which once stretched across Ventura County to include portions of the San Fernando Valley and Malibu, has been redrawn and now encompasses the cities of Ojai, Santa Paula and Ventura in Ventura County.

Voter registration in the 18th District, which also includes conservative portions of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, is 44% Republican and 41% Democratic. Assemblyman Jack O’Connell (D-Carpinteria), whom Hart endorses, is facing Republican Steve MacElvaine, a former San Luis Obispo County supervisor in a race to replace Hart in the November election.

In his remarks to the Senate, Hart expressed gratitude to voters who have returned him time and again to Sacramento: “I’m someone who has not always seen eye to eye with my constituents and I appreciate the leeway they gave me. I’m very fortunate to have had constituents so forgiving in that respect.”

During the remaining 2 1/2 weeks of the regular legislative session, Hart is concentrating on salvaging the controversial CLAS test, a $26-million-a-year state investment spurred by his earlier legislation.

The California Learning Assessment System may fizzle out if current legislation by Hart to extend its life does not win approval of the Legislature and the governor’s signature.

Hart’s bill would attempt to clear up problems with scoring the tests, as well as smooth out other kinks in the program designed to move standardized testing away from multiple-choice and toward essay answers.

Hart said he will carry on negotiations with Wilson’s office during the next couple of weeks over changes the governor is seeking in the CLAS program.