GOP Attacks Ally for Endorsing Gray Davis

The state Republican Party, in a sign of concern about the upcoming election, is broadcasting an attack on one of its biggest benefactors--the state prison guards union--to discredit its support for Democrat Gray Davis for governor.

The $500,000 television blitz, limited to broadcast stations in the Central Valley, stunned union officials and split the state’s Republican leaders.

Gov. Pete Wilson, who counts the prison guards union among his top supporters, said through an aide Thursday that his own Republican Party is making a mistake.

“There is little to be politically gained by attacking law enforcement officers,” said Wilson press secretary Sean Walsh.

But Michael J. Schroeder, chairman of the California Republican Party, said the GOP ads are needed to counter what he termed a “deceptive” campaign for Davis sponsored by the prison guards union.

Schroeder, who said the union endorsed Davis in hopes of better salaries, said the disputed ads include inaccurate descriptions of law enforcement support for Davis. “We’re simply responding to some deceptive ads they ran,” he said.

The commercial, which began airing Wednesday, says: “Don’t be fooled by the prison guard union boss’ phony ads for Gray Davis. They are spending $2 million because Davis will bow to their demands at taxpayer expense.”

The union was surprised by the attack because it has endorsed other Republicans on this year’s ballot, including attorney general candidate Dave Stirling and two GOP Assembly candidates in the Central Valley.

“It is more sad than anything else,” said Lance Corcoran, vice president of the union. He said state Republican leaders are “out of touch” because they apparently didn’t know about the union’s GOP endorsements in the Central Valley.

The union--the California Correctional Peace Officers Assn.--is among the most politically powerful industry groups in the state. Its support was a major boost for Wilson, not only because it gave him substantial financial support but also because of its extensive grass-roots help.

The group’s endorsement of Davis last month was a significant blow to Republican nominee Dan Lungren, the state attorney general, who has made crime a top campaign issue and has benefited from the guards’ financial support and past endorsement.

The guards’ dispute with Republicans came on a day when Davis appeared at the union’s groundbreaking ceremony in west Sacramento for a future memorial to slain prison guards.

“The true test of a democracy is your ability to enjoy your freedom,” Davis said at the Thursday groundbreaking. “Our correctional officers are the final guardian of public safety.”

Don Novey, president of the union, told reporters that it endorsed Davis because he “is pretty willing to listen even though he’s not always with you.” Referring to Lungren, he added: “On the other side, all you get is pontification.”

Novey declined to say how much the union is spending to help Davis.

Lungren on Thursday appeared in Los Angeles with Mayors Richard Riordan and Rudolph Guiliani, of New York City, to tout the endorsement of two California crime victim groups.

The event on the front lawn of police headquarters became a series of sad and bitter testimonials, as the parents of three young murder victims related their stories. At one point, the GOP nominee wiped away tears as he accepted a bronze statue of an angel, for appreciation of his work on behalf of crime victims as attorney general and during his 10 years in Congress.

Times political writer Mark Z. Barabak contributed to this story.