New Governor, New Style

By Ed Magnuson

A law-and-order champion takes office in California

First the Republican version: for eight long years, Californians were subject to the "moonbeam" visions of their erratic Governor, Jerry Brown. Now they are about to enjoy the steady political professionalism of their new Governor, George Deukmejian, who in his inaugural address last week called for a return to a "commonsense society."

Now the Democratic version: Californians are losing an exhilarating, compassionate leader, a pioneer in appointing women, blacks, Hispanics and Asians to help govern the nation's most populous state. They are getting, instead, a humdrum politician, one determined to protect the rich and turn back the clock on progress in civil rights and the environment.

Whatever the merits of those arguments, the contrasting styles of the unconventional Brown, 44, and the traditional Deukmejian (pronounced Duke-may-gin), 54, were readily apparent as the new Governor's term began. When Brown took office eight years ago, he contended that state and national resources were limited, that continual economic growth was neither possible nor desirable and that "small is beautiful." To dramatize that view, Brown held a simple, seven-minute swearing-in ceremony, concluding with the order, "C'mon, let's get to work." There were no parties. He drove a battered 1974 Plymouth and spumed the new $1.3 million Governor's mansion, living alone in a $400-a-month apartment.

Deukmejian, the son of an Armenian rug merchant, took office proclaiming that "there are no limits to what we can achieve" and promising to seek "a new era of opportunity with responsible progress and growth which expands outward for all who seek work." His two-day inauguration included a two-hour show starring Dean Martin and Peggy Lee, a half-hour ceremonial oath-taking (attended by Brown and former Senator S.I. Hayakawa), a reception for influential campaign contributors and a black-tie ball. The $500,000 celebration was produced by Walt Disney Productions and MGM/United Artists.

After the dancing, Deukmejian went to work behind closed doors in the capitol. Even his receptionist was shut away from public view. Brown had kept the massive paneled doors wide open. Deukmejian placed comfortable stuffed couches in his outer office. Brown had craftily employed stiff wooden benches to both symbolize austerity and discourage lingering. Deukmejian, who has been camping out in a Holiday Inn, says he wants to move into the unoccupied Governor's mansion built by Ronald Reagan's former administration. Brown shunned the 25-room stucco house set on eleven green acres as too opulent. Brown's government tried to sell it, but rejected the few bids as too low.

The differences between the outgoing and incoming Governors go beyond style. While both took office during recessions, the current one is far worse than that of early 1975. Brown inherited a $500 million budget surplus from Reagan. Deukmejian faces a $1.5 billion deficit left by Brown. The deficit was caused mainly by the recession and by the state aid Brown gave to maintain city and county services after the celebrated Proposition 13 of 1978 had curtailed property tax revenues.

The hard-working Deukmejian, who spent 16 years in the state legislature and four as state attorney general, promptly tackled the deficit by clamping a lid on all hiring of new state employees, banning out-of-state travel by state officials and ordering a 2% cut in operating funds that will mostly affect the state university system and state colleges. This will save only some $70 million, however, and Deukmejian almost certainly will have to raise taxes to balance the budget, as required by the state constitution. That will be politically awkward, since he campaigned on a pledge to fight tax increases.

The Governor's budget proposals to be announced this week were expected to avoid any tax hike and to close the deficit partly by borrowing $700 million from next year's budget--a delaying tactic that the Democratic-controlled legislature seems likely to reject. If there are to be new taxes, Deukmejian seems determined to force the Democrats to propose them.

Other campaign promises also will be difficult for Deukmejian to keep. He emphasized new efforts to combat crime, which will cost money. A champion of law-and-order, Deukmejian, as a member of the state legislature, helped restore the death penalty, although his bill to permit execution for armed robbery did not pass. He complained that Brown had appointed too many "liberal" judges who failed to "protect the rights of victims as well as protecting the rights of the accused." But in his last hours in office, Brown appointed 52 judges, a record number for a single day, prompting Deukmejian to concede that he will not have much chance to name new ones.

Deukmejian has also vowed to repeal some measures designed to protect consumers and the environment, contending that they retard business growth. But the legislature will oppose such plans. Another big problem for Deukmejian: five of the six elected officials in his administration are Democrats.

As he left office, an uncommonly exuberant Brown entertained 50 of his longtime aides at a cocktail lounge near the capitol. He embraced Pop Singer Linda Ronstadt, whom he has dated periodically for six years. Brown intimates say that the relationship is on again and that a spring wedding is even possible. Brown will say only that he intends to retreat to his Laurel Canyon home in Los Angeles, learn to operate the Apple III computer given him by his staff, do some writing and read books. Brown does not hesitate to admit that he still has political ambitions, declaring all too accurately: "I feel ready to go, but there's no calling."

--By Ed Magnuson. Reported by Benjamin W. Cate/Los Angeles and Alessandra Stanley/Sacramento

With reporting by Benjamin W. Cate, Alessandra Stanley This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so viewer discretion is required.