Davis Sworn In, Pledges ‘Common Sense’ Approach

Promising to lead “not by ideology but by common sense,” Joseph Graham “Gray” Davis Jr. was sworn in Monday as California’s 37th governor.

His hand on a 16th century French Bible, Davis stood crisply at attention to take the oath of office, administered by California Chief Justice Ronald George shortly before noon in the Sacramento Memorial Auditorium.

“I pledge to you an administration that is at once tough-minded and big-hearted,” Davis said moments later in his inaugural address. “We will restore a standard of decency and compassion to government. And we will reward merit and insist on accountability.”

As his wife, Sharon, and 3,500 invited guests looked on, the smiling governor read carefully from a TelePrompTer about his hope of a government that is not divided over politics and a state that is not divided over race.

Davis reached out to Republicans, asserting that he is “a moderate and a pragmatist by nature.” And he sought to cool any expectations in his own party that he might support a wish list of Democratic issues pent up since Republicans took control of the governor’s office 16 years ago.

“It matters not to me whether an idea comes from a Republican or a Democrat,” he said. “What matters is whether the idea is right or wrong--and whether it will work.”

Davis, a Vietnam veteran who called on all Californians to adopt “lasting values like duty, honor and service,” said he chose the restored 72-year-old hall for Monday’s ceremony as a tribute to the nation’s war heroes.

The stage seemed decorated by Hollywood, with imitation gold-and-white marble columns strung solemnly with red-and-white bunting and a dark blue backdrop.

Nearly 100 politicians, advisors and relatives were seated on risers behind the blue podium and a giant golden replica of California’s state seal.

List of Priorities

Davis named a range of problems facing state government, such as a deteriorating environment, an aging infrastructure and--the issue that got the strongest applause--a health care system in need of reform.

He also promised to sign tougher restrictions on assault weapons. And as he did during his campaign over the last year, Davis staked out two top priorities for his administration--better schools and race relations.

“Our success in confronting two challenges in particular will largely determine whether we prosper or decline,” Davis said. “First, we must educate our children for the 21st century. And second, we must seek to unite our increasingly diverse people in common purpose.”

Davis won hearty applause from Democrats for complaining that too many critics of the state’s education system are blaming teachers. At the same time, he promised more scrutiny of teacher performance and stopped just short of calling for termination of those who fail to meet standards.

“Under my administration, either they will get better--or they will be encouraged to find another line of work,” Davis said.

As is traditional, Davis’ speech was a thematic outline of his upcoming administration. Specific policy proposals will be saved for release later in the week.

Davis is scheduled to give the State of the State speech to a joint session of the Legislature on Wednesday evening. And on Friday, he will present his first budget proposal--a roughly $80-billion spending plan scheduled for the fiscal year that begins July 1.

Davis’ pledge of a politically moderate course was well-received by Democrats and still-skeptical Republicans alike. “I thought it was a great Republican speech,” said Assemblyman Bill Campbell (R-Villa Park).

Assembly Republican Leader Rod Pacheco (R-Riverside) said he was especially heartened by Davis’ suggestion that schools might be improved with more rewards and punishments for teachers.

“That’s great stuff,” he said. “We agree with that. I’m concerned, however, that the Democratic Legislature will kill those bills. They have in the past.”

The swearing-in and the inaugural address were the official functions of a day that packed all of Sacramento’s hotels, restaurants, downtown streets and airline terminals with high-spirited California Democrats enjoying their biggest political celebration in a generation.

Davis joined Vice President Al Gore in the Capitol rotunda to shake hands with a long line of invited supporters from labor unions, veterans groups and schoolchildren.

Later, he attended a private luncheon for hundreds of Democratic activists. In the afternoon, he met behind closed doors with a high-level group of California corporate executives.

But Monday was primarily a time for a long-awaited party. Davis raised more than $3.5 million to throw his supporters one of the biggest bashes ever seen in the Capitol.

After two days of parties in Los Angeles on Saturday and Sacramento on Sunday, the grand finale was Monday night: a black-tie inaugural ball held simultaneously with a rock ‘n’ roll ball.

Most of the state’s ranking Democrats--from legislators and members of Congress to U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein and former Sen. Alan Cranston--participated at various events during the day.

During the swearing-in Monday morning, they all gathered on the inaugural stage.

Most conspicuously, Gore and his wife, Tipper, were seated next to outgoing Republican Gov. Pete Wilson and his wife, Gayle.

Davis praised Wilson for his extensive cooperation during the recent transition period. The outgoing governor was also given one of dozens of standing ovations from a gracious and polite audience.

But Davis also put his predecessor in the hot seat, with an indirect reference to Wilson’s controversial role in promoting an end to affirmative action and benefits for illegal immigrants.

“I pledged that the day I took the oath of office, the era of wedge-issue politics in California would be over,” Davis exclaimed. “Well, my fellow Californians, that day is here. The time has come. And you can finally ring down the curtain on the politics of division.”

The audience and the dignitaries on stage leaped to their feet and cheered. Wilson and his wife sat motionless in their chairs, hands in their laps.

Davis said he plans to travel soon to Mexico City with a delegation of business, labor and academic leaders. He also symbolically recognized the state’s growing Latino community by inviting several governors and mayors from Mexico to his inaugural ceremony.

Bustamante Installed

The most powerful image of the new political power in California’s Latino community, however, was the swearing in of Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante, the first Latino to hold that office since 1871.

Bustamante served as the master of ceremonies for the inaugural. And at his own swearing-in on the floor of the Capitol’s Senate chambers, the multiethnic celebration included many dignitaries speaking in both English and Spanish.

Like Davis, Bustamante underscored his moderate Democratic politics by citing goals that include creation of a commission on government waste, which will serve as a “watchdog to make sure the people’s money is spent wisely.”

Elsewhere, Democrats attended inaugurals for a new attorney general--Bill Lockyer--and a new state treasurer, Phil Angelides. Kathleen Connell, the Democratic state controller, was sworn in for a second term on Monday.

Lockyer was joined at his inauguration by Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan, a Republican who called the new attorney general a “great friend,” and one committed to “compassion, fairness and equal justice for all Californians.”

In his comments, Lockyer sought to distinguish himself from his predecessor, Republican Dan Lungren.

“I enter into its responsibilities with perhaps a broader notion: that the attorney general is the steward of justice. And that justice itself is more than crime and punishment,” he said. In addition to crime control, Lockyer said he will use the powerful office to combat discrimination, consumer fraud and pollution.

Only two Republicans remain among California’s eight statewide elected offices--Insurance Commissioner Chuck Quackenbush and Secretary of State Bill Jones. They were sworn in Monday during private ceremonies. Both plan public events later in the week.

Jones and Quackenbush attended the Davis inaugural as guests seated on the stage.

Davis’ speech portrayed California as a state enjoying an economic bounty that must be protected.

“On the eve of the new millennium, we still face daunting challenges,” he said. “We will not long hold onto our claim as the Golden State unless we forge new ways to grow our economy, to ensure public safety, to maintain a clean environment, to improve health care for all Californians, to contain urban sprawl and to repair our aging infrastructure.”

Davis was buoyant during his speech, but also characteristically stiff and careful in studying the TelePrompTer that fed him every line. At one point, when he was interrupted by applause, he reminded the audience that he had to go back and read his line again.

The speech, written by Davis’ new communications director, Phil Trounstine, included a quote from the Bible about the value of knowledge, which he used regarding schoolchildren. And it harked back to the Gold Rush of 1849 as the event that most shaped the California of today.

“Let it be said of us that in a shrinking world, men and women of different races and ethnicities were brought together as never before,” Davis said in conclusion. “And finally, let it be said that in the most fundamental of mankind’s purposes--to nurture the next generation--we did our duty and gave our children the tools to learn, to grow and to succeed.”

Times staff writers Carl Ingram and Nancy Hill-Holtzman contributed to this story.

A video excerpt of Gray Davis’ inauguration and Times reporters’ audio analyses of the challenges facing his administration are on The Times’ Web site: https://www.latimes.com/davis

* REIGNING WOMEN: Arizona is first state with all-female line of succession. A14

* MEMORABLE TRIP: An Inglewood fourth-grade class attends inauguration. A17

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

New Officials Take Oath

Statewide officials sworn in Monday include:

Gray Davis (Democrat) Governor

Cruz Bustamante (Democrat) Lieutenant Governor

Bill Lockyer (Democrat) Attorney General

Phil Angelides (Democrat) Treasurer

Kathleen Connell (Democrat) Controller

Bill Jones (Republican) Secretary of State*

Chuck Quackenbush (Republican) Insurance Commissioner**

Sworn in Sunday: Delaine Eastin, Supt. of Public Instruction

* Sworn in during a private ceremony; will have public ceremony Thursday.

** Sworn in during a private ceremony; will have public ceremony Wednesday.