Torres Alleges Bullying by Davis

Retired U.S. Rep. Esteban Torres, who long represented East Los Angeles, charged Wednesday that aides to Gov. Gray Davis tried to bully him into resigning from the California Transportation Commission shortly after the governor appointed him to a second term.

Torres, one of Davis’ earliest supporters in the 1998 governor’s race, said he had been treated badly by top members of Davis’ personal staff and had no intention of giving up the prestigious, but unsalaried position.

Davis spokesman Steve Maviglio said the governor had wanted to replace Torres to allow for “some fresh blood on the Transportation Commission” but reversed himself Wednesday.

“We’re trying to say he can stay on,” Maviglio said.

Key Meeting

Torres, 73, who retired from Congress in 1998 after 16 years, said he had received a March 28 letter from Davis informing him of the reappointment, which is subject to Senate confirmation. He signed and returned the papers.

Torres said he wanted to be reappointed by April 3 so he could vote on the proposed $330-million construction of a 14-mile San Fernando Valley busway; a six-mile-long, light-rail line serving East Los Angeles; and the purchase of buses and trains -- projects that he said are desperately needed.

But the night before that meeting, Torres said, the governor’s appointments secretary called to tell him that Davis wanted to appoint him as trustee of the California State University system or to the State Board of Education.

“I said, ‘What about my appointment to the Transportation Commission?’ He said, ‘No. no. You’re out of that.’ ”

Ten minutes later, Torres said, the secretary, Michael Yamaki, called back to say that the governor had agreed not to withdraw his reappointment if Torres would send an undated letter of resignation.

Torres said he agreed because he was desperate to participate in the commission vote.

“Even if it means sending this letter, I’ll do it. But it was blackmail. It was extortion,” he said.

Maviglio said the letter of resignation was sought because Davis ultimately wanted to appoint him to another post.

But Torres said he never agreed that his reappointment would be temporary. Since April 3, he said, members of Davis’ staff have lobbied him to resign.

Tactics Denied

Torres, who as a congressman was instrumental in obtaining federal funds for Los Angeles County transportation projects and in seeking funds for East Los Angeles projects, said he was angered by that lobbying. It was, he said, how Davis’ office deals with Latinos.

“I mean, it’s just a disregard for the kind of service that some of us have given,” he said. “We’re kind of an after-thought.”

He said the office concludes: “ ‘He’s a nice guy. He won’t care if we dump him and put someone else on.’ ”

Maviglio rejected the allegation that the effort to remove Torres from the commission showed a lack of respect toward Latinos. “The record shows quite the contrary. The governor has made key Latino appointments to the most important boards and commissions. He’s appointed more Latinos to boards and commissions than any governor in California history.”

Maviglio said the offer of a California State University trusteeship, a highly coveted position, had been driven by the governor’s desire “to give the Latino community a greater voice, particularly on the governor’s priority, which is education.”