Foe Questions Riordan’s GOP Loyalty

Aiming a preemptive strike at his strongest potential rival, GOP gubernatorial hopeful Bill Jones asserted Monday that Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan has no place running in a Republican primary.

Speaking to a conservative group in San Diego, Secretary of State Jones recalled Riordan’s support for a number of Democratic causes and candidates, including sizable campaign contributions to their rival in November 2002: incumbent Gov. Gray Davis.

Jones questioned how Riordan, who is still exploring a bid for governor, could plausibly challenge Davis.

“I have headlined more than 70 events for state and local Republican organizations, campaigned tirelessly for our nominees and helped raise millions of dollars,” said Jones, a former GOP leader in the Legislature. “Can Dick Riordan say the same? The answer is no.”

Jones said Riordan has contributed more than $1 million in the last two decades to Democratic candidates, including $20,000 to Davis, and sided with Democratic U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein and state Atty. Gen. Bill Lockyer in their contests against Republicans.

“If Dick Riordan wants to run for governor, he’s certainly welcome to do so,” Jones said. “But the Republican Party’s nominee for governor ought to be a Republican.”

The tough talk was not just uncharacteristic of the mild-mannered Jones; it also was surprising given that Riordan is not even a declared candidate.

A mayoral spokesman brushed aside the criticism.

“Bill Jones isn’t exactly a household name in California, and you’d think his time would be better spent defining himself rather than attacking somebody who’s not a declared opponent,” said Deputy Mayor Ben Austin. “The mayor is not focused on Bill Jones. The mayor is not focused on Gray Davis. The mayor is focused on the people of Los Angeles.”

Riordan, who will leave his nonpartisan office on June 30, has said he might form an exploratory committee by the end of the month and will make a final decision on running for governor by September. He was away Monday on an extended weekend holiday in Mexico.

Jones, the only Republican in statewide office, has been eyeing a run for governor for years. Also vying on the GOP side is William Simon Jr., a Los Angeles investment banker and first-time political candidate.

But Riordan has emerged as the early favorite among many Republicans desperate to overhaul the struggling party’s image. They believe Riordan’s more moderate stances on social issues such as abortion and gun control could boost his appeal across partisan lines.

A recent Field Poll showed the mayor running ahead of both Jones and Simon in a prospective GOP primary and virtually tied with Davis in a theoretical matchup. Davis led Jones by 14% and Simon by 17%.

But Jones insisted Monday that most rank-and-file Republicans are just beginning to learn about Riordan, a process Jones obviously hoped to influence with his remarks in San Diego.

“The question in Republican minds has to be how he would govern once he got in” office, Jones said after his speech to members of the Conservative Order for Good Government.

“As far as reaching out. . . . you reach out to Democrats and independents on issues, based on your record,” Jones said. “You don’t have to contribute to Democrats. You don’t have to endorse Democrats.”

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Times staff writer Michael Finnegan contributed to this story.