Wilson Owes the State a Fully Served Governorship : Politics: Making a run for the White House now would put Democrats in charge and cancel his promising agenda.

This is the most challenging time in California’s history. The people voted in November for a tough governor whose leadership had inspired Californians to triumph over floods, fires, earthquakes and a deep recession. However, with Gov. Pete Wilson’s revelation that he is interested in running for President, there will be a devastating break in the continuity of steady leadership offered by Govs. George Deukmejian and Wilson since 1983.

When Californians were faced in 1994 with a return to the failed policies of Jerry Brown--through a Kathleen Brown administration--Pete Wilson came from behind to win by a landslide. His dynamic victory was the result of several positive factors. The voters were responding to Wilson’s appointment of responsible judges, his strong leadership in bringing California out of a recession, his support of Proposition 187, his advocacy for tough laws dealing with crime and gang violence and his efforts to slash red tape and push through reform of welfare and of workers’ compensation laws.

This agenda of constructive achievements is in peril if Wilson runs for President and Lt. Gov. Gray Davis, the former chief of staff for Jerry Brown, becomes governor. The person whose fingerprints were on past pathetic appointments and policies would appoint another liberal lieutenant governor. This would turn back the clock to the days when Jerry Brown was governor and Rose Bird’s philosophy presided over the judicial branch. If Wilson hands the state’s two highest positions to liberal Democrats, they would be in a position to win reelection in 1998.

The Republicans’ historic success in November was a result of their promise to the voters that they would work for the reforms contained in the “contract with America.” The election was a repudiation of President Clinton’s character and his liberal agenda. A President who has countless friends but no character witnesses will be defeated in 1996.

However, the character issue would be critically neutralized if Wilson broke his promise--reaffirmed repeatedly during the 1994 campaign--that he would serve out his four-year term as governor. The Republicans would lose the advantage of an issue that has united independents, moderates and conservative Democrats.

Another drawback to a Wilson presidential candidacy is that the enormous sums of money required would divert funds needed for Republican legislative candidates in California, who are now within reach of a majority in the Assembly and Senate.

The governor’s proposed initiative to amend the constitutional provision on gubernatorial succession would be rejected by the voters as tricky, mean-spirited and costly. Furthermore, requiring another special statewide election would cost millions at the expense of vital services and create stagnation in enacting the reforms Wilson promised in his campaign for reelection.

There is no shortage of qualified Republican candidates for the presidency. It cannot plausibly be argued that Wilson is turning California over to the Democrats in order to fill a vacuum in Republican leadership.

Wilson should devote the next four years to making California safer, its economy sounder and its educational system workable. He could then run for the presidency on his eight-year record as governor. Ronald Reagan, Richard Nixon and Jimmy Carter were all out of office when they waged their successful presidential campaigns. Wilson can do the same.

What is at stake in California over the next four years is too great to permit ambition to triumph over character or ego over commitment. Pete Wilson must retain the trust of the people of California in order to win the trust of the people of the United States.