Bustamante Sets Self Apart From Former Democratic Speaker Brown

In his first meeting with reporters as Assembly speaker-designate, Cruz Bustamante sought to establish himself Friday as a down-to-earth lawmaker mindful of his family’s immigrant roots.

Bustamante, setting himself apart from the last Democratic speaker, the flamboyant and glib Willie Brown, said the lesson of Tuesday’s election is that voters are now demanding moderation from their leaders.

“They don’t want extreme politics from any group. They want a little less rhetoric, a little bit less flash, a little bit more listening and a little bit more action,” said the two-term Fresno lawmaker.

Bustamante, who next month is set to become the first Latino speaker in state history, said his emergence in the wake of Democratic victories Tuesday will probably influence the debate over immigration and other social policies.

“My grandparents came to this country [from Mexico] . . . and as a result, [my speakership] might send a signal to all those sons and daughters and grandkids of immigrants that just because you have too many vowels in your name, because you look a little different . . . it doesn’t make any difference” in state politics.

Bustamante (pronounced boost-ah-mahn-tay) brushed off the suggestion that he would be a role model, saying he doesn’t hold himself “up as anything other than what I am, a guy who works hard.”

The 43-year-old said that when he talks to youngsters he reminds them of the Spanish word “ganas,” meaning a strong desire.

“You have to have desire, a strong desire to do things,” said Bustamante, three of whose grandparents are from Mexico--two from Chihuahua and one from Zacatecas.

His Capitol news conference marked Bustamante’s transition from an obscure Central Valley legislator to a high-profile player on the statewide stage whose newfound prominence is attracting front-page attention in the Spanish-language press.

His news conference drew a packed house of lawmakers, job seekers, friends and lobbyists.

Although Bustamante previously has taken a cautious approach with Capitol reporters, on Friday he displayed flashes of wit and an ability to deflect questions he didn’t want to answer.

Bustamante’s rise was fueled by victories in Tuesday’s ballot that enabled Democrats to capture at least 41 of the Assembly’s 80 seats. With absentee ballots still to be counted in three too-close-to-call contests, Democrats could emerge with as many as 44 seats when lawmakers convene Dec. 2.

In any event, current Assembly Speaker Curt Pringle (R-Garden Grove) has conceded that his caucus will get no more than 39 seats.

The speakership will give Bustamante the ability to oversee the Assembly’s agenda and name staff and appoint committee leaders. Bustamante was cautious Friday, not unveiling any major initiatives or appointments.

Among his priorities are expanding Gov. Pete Wilson’s popular plan to reduce the size of public school classes; implementing federal welfare reforms and overhauling the endangered species law. But he offered few details on the direction he wants to take the Assembly.

Some legislators privately fretted about Bustamante’s ties to developers and agricultural interests, which are often at loggerheads with environmentalists on a range of issues such as protecting salmon runs to appointments to the Coastal Commission.

Bustamante indicated that he does not want to eliminate the endangered species law but fine-tune it. He also said he would move slowly on the Coastal Commission appointments, soliciting the views of various groups and lawmakers.

Although Bustamante said he has not promised any jobs to lawmakers, he indicated all committees would be headed by Democrats.

Capitol sources said Assemblyman-elect Don Perata of Oakland is in line for the powerful Rules Committee chairmanship, the housekeeping panel known as a key fund-raising base, and Debra Bowen of Marina del Rey is regarded as the front-runner for the Natural Resources Committee.

Legislative sources said Bustamante is leaning toward naming two Los Angeles legislators to powerful posts: former speakership rival Sheila Kuehl as the Assembly’s presiding officer and Antonio Villaraigosa as majority leader.

On Thursday, some of his supporters said Bustamante had pledged not to ignore San Francisco Bay Area concerns. On Friday, the speaker-elect said he would act as a “referee” in disputes between northern and southern legislators.

Signaling his interest in a smooth transition, Bustamante announced Friday that veteran Assemblyman Phillip Isenberg (D-Sacramento), widely respected by both parties, would oversee the transition on behalf of the Democrats.

Bustamante also said he’s spoken with Pringle and Wilson, who must now deal with a Senate and Assembly in the hands of Democrats.

“I’ve asked [Wilson] to tone down the rhetoric” on welfare reform, Bustamante said, adding that federal changes pose “a major challenge” to the state.

Spanish-language news media showed keen interest in Bustamante. His speakership was banner-headline news atop the front page in La Opinion, the widely circulated daily newspaper in Los Angeles.

La Opinion praised Bustamante in a Friday editorial as a political moderate. It said the unity shown by Assembly Democrats in his selection was a welcome change from the internal division and rancor of recent battles for the speakership.

Spanish television and radio stations in California were reported doing extensive coverage.

The Miami-based independent television network Univision, viewed throughout Latin America including Mexico, was planning Friday to air an interview with Bustamante, according to a TV news service in Sacramento.

Times staff writer Max Vanzi contributed to this story.