Villaraigosa Is Democrats’ Choice for Assembly Chief

SACRAMENTO — The Assembly’s majority Democrats voted Wednesday in support of Antonio Villaraigosa (D-Los Angeles) as the next speaker of the lower house, as they were expected to do.

Although the Democrats control enough Assembly votes to elect a speaker, formal installation of Villaraigosa awaits a vote of the full house, possibly today. Other contenders withdrew days ago.

Meanwhile, present Speaker Cruz Bustamante (D-Fresno) officially announced his entry into the race for lieutenant governor, saying he will step down as speaker soon.

Bustamante will remain an Assembly member this year, his last under term limits, while campaigning for the No. 2 statewide job. If successful, he would be the first Latino elected to a statewide office in modern times.

“I believe my moderate politics has been good for California,” Bustamante said, adding that he hopes to continue as a voice for moderation as lieutenant governor.

“We cut taxes, cut class size, cut community college fees, cut welfare and cut crime,” he said. “Those achievements were a reflection of my commitment to put bipartisan policymaking ahead of partisan finger-pointing.”

Is Bustamante ready to be lieutenant to a governor of another party--the pattern in California for 20 years--if, say, Atty. Gen. Dan Lungren wins the gubernatorial race? “That’s a big if,” the speaker said.

Lungren, widely regarded as the probable Republican nominee, “has a long way to go to show he’s the best leader for the state of California,” Bustamante said.