Davis on Fence on Prop. 45

Gov. Gray Davis on Saturday announced that he is taking no position on Proposition 45, a ballot measure to ease legislative term limits, even though his own Democratic Party is the initiative’s largest financial backer at $3.2 million.

The governor’s decision also runs counter to Democratic legislators, who have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the measure.

Davis spokesman Roger Salazar declined to elaborate, saying the governor “is just not going to take a position.”

All three of Davis’ Republican challengers for governor--former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan, businessman Bill Simon Jr. and Secretary of State Bill Jones--oppose the initiative, as does the state Republican Party. Recent polls show the measure trailing slightly among likely voters, but with large numbers of voters still undecided.

“Perhaps the governor should have raised his finger a bit higher in the wind,” said Dan Schnur, who is managing the No-on-45 campaign. With a note of sarcasm, Schnur expressed “sympathy” for Davis.

“On one hand,” Schnur said, “he sees a majority of California oppose the initiative. On the other hand, he has a Legislature full of Democratic members whose votes he needs to pass a budget. Coming out against them and their effort to extend their careers might be a risky way to begin those negotiations.”

Senate President Pro Tem John Burton (D-San Francisco) pushed to get the measure on Tuesday’s ballot. Assembly Speaker Herb Wesson (D-Culver City) has called its passage one of his top priorities.

If the measure fails, several veteran Democratic lawmakers--including Burton, with whom Davis has an icy relationship--would be forced to leave the Legislature in 2004, halfway through the term of whoever is elected governor in November. Wesson would be forced to leave the Assembly in 2004, but he could run for a state Senate seat.

If the initiative is approved, lawmakers will win the right to run for one more four-year term in the Senate and two more two-year terms in the lower house by gathering the signatures of 20% of the voters who cast ballots in their districts in the prior election. Currently, Assembly members are limited to three two-year terms and senators are restricted to two four-year terms.

“I don’t think the endorsements of any politicians would make any difference at this point,” Bill Carrick, who is managing the Yes-on-45 campaign, said, noting that the measure is backed by most of the major interests in Sacramento, from business groups to unions that represent police and firefighters.

Davis opposed the 1990 initiative that instituted term limits in California.