California and the West : Bergeson OKd for State Education Post : Senate: Republican gains overwhelming support for board despite Latino opposition.

Citing strong personal ties, state senators Tuesday overwhelmingly approved the nomination of Marian Bergeson, a former lawmaker, to a seat on the State Board of Education.

Though she has been the target of complaints about her alleged insensitivity to minorities, Bergeson, a Newport Beach Republican, won confirmation on a 36-2 vote.

The vote reflected a collegial spirit among Democrats and Republicans voting on a popular former member, and a desire by majority Democrats to support Gov. Gray Davis’ selection of Bergeson.

State Senate President John Burton, a liberal San Francisco Democrat, praised Bergeson, a conservative who was in the Legislature from 1978 to 1994, as having “the highest possible integrity.” Commenting that he has nothing against Bergeson personally, Sen. Joe Baca (D-Rialto) said the ex-lawmaker nonetheless had failed to change her critical views of bilingual education.

The Senate also approved Davis’ appointments of four others to the State Board of Education: San Jose Mayor Susan Hammer; Monica Lozano, associate publisher of La Opinion; Carlton J. Jenkins, a founder of Founders National Bank of Los Angeles; and Vicki Reynolds, a Beverly Hills City Council member.

Also Tuesday, a spokeswoman for Davis said he has not taken a position on a bill that would expand California’s landmark bottle law.

The measure (SB 332) by Sen. Byron Sher (D-Stanford) was approved 24 to 9 by the Senate on Monday and sent to the governor. Davis has until the end of September to act on the measure.