Some Officials Protest Ruling on Term Limits

A federal judge’s ruling that California’s term limits law is unconstitutional should have been good news for some Ventura County legislators, but the action drew mostly confusion and protests.

Assemblyman Nao Takasugi (R-Oxnard), whose final term expires in 1998, said the ruling will likely be suspended until an expected appeal from the state is heard. If that’s the case, he said, then term limits would remain in effect for next year’s elections.

“It’s all up in the air,” said Takasugi, 75. “I wish there had been a more clear-cut decision so we could move forward.”

But Takasugi, once a firm believer in limiting Assembly members to six years in office, said “if there’s an opportunity to run [again], I would consider it.”

State Sen. Cathie Wright (R-Simi Valley), whose term expires in 2000, said she would also welcome the chance to run for reelection.

“If I’m healthy and I can still devote the time and energy to the job, then I would like to go again,” she said.

But Wright, 68, said that even if U. S. District Judge Claudia Wilken’s ruling were upheld by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, she expects the Legislature or voters to approve another law to limit legislative terms.

“People are very determined about term limits,” she said. “And I have no problem with that if that’s what the people want.”

Republican Assemblymen Tom McClintock and Brooks Firestone said they are both strong supporters of term limits and would be disappointed if the judge’s ruling were permitted to stand.

“The public has spoken very loud and clear on this issue,” said McClintock, who can run in 1998 for a final two-year term representing Simi Valley and Fillmore under current law. “I am very confident that term limits will be upheld. The court has no right to place its will on the people with the ruling of one left-wing judge.”

Firestone (R-Los Olivos), who is considering running for lieutenant governor when his term expires in 1998, said California is better off in the long run with term limits because it allows “people from the real world” to serve in the Legislature rather than career politicians.

“I’m rooting for term limits,” he said. “The people of California would lose if they are thrown out.”

Firestone, whose district includes parts of western Ventura County, said he will make an announcement soon on whether he will run for lieutenant governor or state superintendent of public instruction.

State Sen. Jack O’Connell (D-Carpinteria), whose term expires in 2002, could not be reached for comment.

Meanwhile, initial reports of Wilken’s ruling also caused confusion for at least one legislative candidate.

Republican Tony Strickland, who has already announced his candidacy for Takasugi’s open Assembly seat, said he immediately called the legislator’s office upon hearing the news.

“I informed his staff that I would endorse him for reelection,” Strickland said. “I told them I would do whatever I could to help him win his election bid. I’ve always said that there was no way that I would run against him.”

But Strickland said he learned a short time later that Wilken would suspend her ruling if state Atty. Gen. Dan Lungren files an appeal within 30 days.

“This is the will of the people and Dan Lungren is running for governor, so he will file an appeal,” predicted Strickland, who works as an aide to McClintock. “So this means I will be a candidate for the Assembly in 1998.”

Ventura County Supervisor Frank Schillo, who has also expressed interest in running for Takasugi’s open seat, said he too called Takasugi’s office to wish him “good luck in his reelection.”

Schillo said that even if term limits remain in effect in 1998, he is “leaning toward” running for reelection as a supervisor.

Supervisor John K. Flynn, mentioned as a possible third candidate for the same Assembly seat, said Wednesday that he would not run for state office in 1998.

“I’ve had a lot of people call me about it,” he said. “But I’m happy where I am.”

Former Republican congressional candidate Richard Sybert, who has hinted that he might run for the Assembly seat if Takasugi leaves office next year, said he has not yet made a final decision.

But Sybert, a resident of Calabasas, said he will probably move to Thousand Oaks this summer to be closer to his wife’s family and his job as an attorney for an Oxnard toy company. Thousand Oaks is part of Takasugi’s legislative district.

COURT RULING

A ban on lawmakers seeking their old seats is ruled unconstitutional. A1