Double Whammy

California’s power in Congress suffered a double blow Monday when retirement plans were announced by Reps. Ronald V. Dellums of Oakland and Vic Fazio of West Sacramento, two senior Democrats with 45 years’ service between them.

With the recent death of Rep. Walter Capps of Santa Barbara, Democrats will go into 1998 facing contests for at least three open seats, two of them prime targets for major Republican assaults. Dellums’ district is safe for the Democrats, but the other two are vulnerable if Republicans field strong candidates. These California races are likely to be pivotal in next year’s battle for control of the House.

Dellums and Fazio came to Congress in the 1970s from strikingly different political bases and with dramatically disparate personal styles. Each has earned respect for diligent service to his district. Each has risen to a leadership position in the House and within the California delegation.

Dellums, 61, is a Marine veteran who was elected in 1970 as a black antiwar radical and fervent foe of apartheid in South Africa. He ultimately became chairman of the House National Security Committee, formerly the Armed Services Committee, and has maintained a strongly liberal voting record. Dellums said he will leave the House Feb. 6.

Fazio, 55, was elected in 1978 after serving in the state Assembly. Over the years, the lawmaker developed friendships and loyalties through his tireless insider work on congressional issues, rising to the Democrats’ third-ranking leadership position. He has been a key Clinton administration lieutenant in the House. He says that because the demands of office have become too much for him he will not seek an 11th term next year.

As a moderate, Fazio was able to make alliances with Republicans in helping Clinton to assemble winning coalitions and to fashion programs of benefit to all California. And Dellums, although elected as an antiwar dove, was able to develop consensus with ardent pro-military members of his committee.

“This is a huge loss for California,” observed Rep. Robert T. Matsui (D-Sacramento). “It will take us years to recover from this.”

Nothing is more certain in politics than change. And new talent invigorates any institution. But the loss of the experience and dedication of Ronald Dellums and Vic Fazio will be felt keenly throughout California.