State Attorneys Give to Riordan

Frustrated by Gov. Gray Davis’ failure to grant significant pay hikes, a union representing state attorneys has donated $250,000 to former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan’s gubernatorial campaign--setting off a major controversy within the union.

The donation by the 3,000-member California Attorneys in State Employment, by far the largest the organization has ever made, was wired to the Republican candidate Monday, six days after union members voted to oust the current board, and five days before the new board will take over.

“Let’s say I am reserving judgment until I have all the facts,” said Scott Burns, a California Department of Transportation attorney who is the union’s incoming president. “But I am very disappointed that the outgoing board would take such a substantial move without consulting the new board.”

Burns said some union members are saying the new board should reconsider the donation, although he and others said they are not sure it can be rescinded.

Kevin Spillane, the Riordan campaign’s political director, welcomed the donation, saying his boss is “honored to have their support,” particularly because the union represents deputies attorney general.

“These are the people who are on the front lines prosecuting death penalty cases and other complicated felony cases on behalf of the people of California,” Spillane said. “We think it’s a very positive reflection on Richard Riordan’s strong record on public safety issues.”

The union donated $25,000 to Davis in his 1998 campaign.

This year, the governor has won the endorsements of several law enforcement groups, including the union that represents California Highway Patrol officers. The Davis administration recently agreed to a labor pact with CHP officers that promises them significant pay increases over the five-year term of the contract.

The timing of the attorneys union donation troubles some members because it comes as the Davis administration is engaged in contract negotiations with the labor organization. That raises concerns among some members that they will emerge from the talks with less than they might otherwise have received.

Mark Ginsburg, chairman of the union’s political action committee and a supporter of the donation, said the board acted within its rights. The board had a “fiduciary responsibility” to continue business even though it is a lame duck, he said. He also discounted concern that the union would suffer at the bargaining table.

“We would hope that there would be no retaliation for expression of 1st Amendment rights,” Ginsburg said. “It’s our hope that our governor will realize that fair and equitable treatment of state lawyers is in the public’s interest. This action was not based on anything other than our meeting with Mayor Riordan. . . . The prospect of having a man of the caliber of Mayor Riordan as governor is very exciting.”

Entry-level pay for state prosecutors is $42,000 a year. A few senior attorneys can make $107,000 annually. But senior deputies attorney general make less than $100,000. Davis 4vetoed legislation this year that would have required that their pay be on a par with lawyers for municipalities.

Garry South, Davis’ chief campaign strategist, charged that the donation to Riordan “has nothing to do with the governor’s race whatsoever; it has everything to do with the ongoing negotiations between our state negotiators and this organization.”