Democrats Choose Burton to Lead Senate

Sen. John Burton, an old-school liberal who rebuilt a political career from the ruins of an alcohol and cocaine addiction, was chosen by fellow Democrats on Friday as the next leader of the state Senate.

The full Senate, including minority Republicans, is expected to formally elect Burton as its president pro tem next month, when Sen. Bill Lockyer (D-Hayward) plans to step down to run for California attorney general. Lockyer is prohibited by term limits from seeking reelection.

Despite Burton’s record of combative partisanship during his more than 30 years in politics, Republicans said he can expect GOP support based on his reputation for fairness and for keeping his word.

Burton, of San Francisco, already has the backing of at least 21 Democrats, enough votes in the 40-member Senate to become president pro tem--a post in which Lockyer became the most powerful figure in the Legislature.

Burton, 65, a millionaire, is known as a champion of the elderly, poor and disabled. He is also considered an all-star fund-raiser, a major consideration for Democrats as they seek to retain control of the Senate this year.

Burton was first elected to the Assembly in 1964 and won a seat in Congress in 1974. He retired from the House in 1982, a victim of his addiction to cocaine and alcohol. After a successful recovery, he won back his Assembly seat in 1988 and was elected to the Senate in 1996.

A high-decibel and often profane shouter, Burton sometimes disparages Gov. Pete Wilson as “that little guy in the corner office.” But Wilson, who has known Burton for more than 30 years, welcomed him Friday as the next Senate leader.

Through a spokesman, Wilson praised Burton’s intellect and work ethic and offered the hope that in his new post, the Democrat would be “more restrained in tossing out inflammatory comments.”

“I do look forward to working with Gov. Wilson in the corner office,” Burton told reporters.

In the Assembly, another leadership change appeared imminent as Assemblyman Antonio Villaraigosa (D-Los Angeles) all but cemented his campaign to become the next speaker.

His last rival, Assemblywoman Denise Ducheny (D-San Diego), acknowledged Friday that Villaraigosa had enough votes to succeed Speaker Cruz Bustamante (D-Fresno), who like Lockyer cannot run for reelection because of term limits.

Villaraigosa declined to comment, except to say that he expects a leadership vote to occur as early as next week. Bustamante, a likely candidate for lieutenant governor, said he also intends to announce his political plans next week.

In the midst of the changes, newly elected Democratic Assemblyman Gil Cedillo, representing downtown Los Angeles, took his oath of office from Bustamante on Friday. Cedillo is a childhood friend of Villaraigosa. The two were classmates at Roosevelt High School, UCLA and People’s College of Law in Los Angeles.

Meanwhile, Republican Ruben Barrales, a San Mateo County supervisor who had campaigned for state treasurer for months, announced Friday that he will run instead for state controller. The action came four days after Assemblyman Curt Pringle (R-Garden Grove) decided to run for treasurer instead of controller.

Barrales, the only GOP Latino running for a statewide office, said he wants to avoid a primary fight with Pringle.

Barrales picked up a rare primary endorsement in the controller’s race from state Atty. Gen. Dan Lungren, the all-but-certain GOP gubernatorial nominee. Republican sources described Lungren’s move as an effort to shape the GOP ticket this fall and improve the party’s troubled relations with Latino voters.

Controller Kathleen Connell, a Democrat, is expected to announce her candidacy for a second term next week.

Times political writer Mark Z. Barabak in Los Angeles contributed to this story.