Posted on 01/01/2006 11:05:10 AM PST by NormsRevenge
Assembly Speaker and one-time Pomona immigrant advocate Fabian Núñez is heading into a defining year in his young political career, saying he is prepared to get things done. But critics say the Los Angeles Democrat is only prepared to be an "obstructionist."
In a legislative session that was overshadowed by partisan bickering surrounding November's special election, the perception that Núñez can't or won't negotiate was reinforced by his outspoken criticism of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger after election day.
Unlike the speaker's Senate counterpart, state Sen. Don Perata, D-Oakland, who was more conciliatory, Núñez had said, "It can't be just one of those things where you sing 'Kumbaya,' and you move on. Lessons have to be learned."
The speaker said the negative media reaction was unfair, but he accepts it as politics as usual. As a similar example, Núñez pointed to the governor's gloating two years ago that his special election victory was a message from the voters.
"So now we have a special election, and all of the governor's economic theories of strangling government in order to balance the budget on the backs of schools and public servants failed miserably," said Núñez at a downtown Los Angeles cafe.
"And now we don't want to talk about it anymore. If the standard is that we have to remind ourselves of the message of the voters, there is always a message." The 39-year-old Núñez took a lead role in negotiating with Schwarzenegger to avoid the special election and then became a high-profile opponent against the governor's reform agenda once it was called. The initiatives -- dealing with teacher tenure, redistricting, stricter requirements for public employee union dues and limiting state spending -- were soundly defeated.
But Núñez, a former amateur boxer, said most people comment on his hard stance before and after the election, not the attempts to negotiate months before.
"I was trying to say, 'Look, don't go over that cliff, don't take this state over that cliff knowing that if I had an agreement it would have helped him,' " Núñez said. "It would have helped us, but it would have helped him more. I was still willing to do that because it was the right thing to do."
It's a style that will make him effective in this crucial election year, said close friend Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. The mayor, a former Assembly speaker, said he talked with Núñez about the "Kumbaya" comment.
"He knows he has to work with the governor, and I think he is looking forward to it," Villaraigosa said. "He knows when to use diplomacy and when to use the power of his office and that's what makes him so effective."
Núñez was born in San Diego and lived several years in Tijuana, Mexico. In the '90s, he worked for a Pomona-based educational center, which provided literacy programs for legalized immigrants. He graduated from Pitzer College in Claremont and worked for the Los Angeles Unified School District.
Before being elected to the Assembly in 2002, he was the political director for the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor.
The bilingual assemblyman said living with his large family in cramped quarters in San Diego as a youngster taught him how to be assertive but also forced him to forgive and forget quickly -- a perfect primer in dealing with the many members of the Democratic caucus and the Legislature as a whole, he added.
But some on the other side of the political aisle believe that Núñez has only one true constituency - labor.
"All the speaker does is dance to the tunes that the special interests play, and it's my sense that he is not all that good of a negotiator," said Assemblyman Ray Haynes, R-Temecula. Former Assembly speaker "Bob Hertzberg and Villaraigosa were more effective, because Núñez is more heavy-handed than anything else and that makes him less effective."
Dan Schnur, a Republican political consultant, said the big question in Sacramento is if the speaker will come out swinging or if Sen. Perata's conciliatory tone will win out.
"It did seem that Núñez was still looking for his pound of flesh, but it's still too early to tell how it's going to play out," Schnur said. "It's clearly better for the state of California for the leaders to work together."
Núñez did try negotiating with the governor before the special election, and that's a sign of progress, Schnur said.
The speaker said he realizes how important 2006 will be. As Schwarzenegger runs for re-election -- Núñez endorsed Democrat state Treasurer Phil Angelides -- legislators will be wrangling over a possible multibillion-dollar infrastructure bond, health care costs and education funding.
"We are going to get some things done, but that doesn't mean I'm not going to be reminding the governor every opportunity I get that the voters want us to invest in education," Núñez said. "Voters want us to set our priorities first and then figure how to fund them."
California Teachers Association President Barbara Kerr said it's that attitude that makes Núñez the second-most powerful elected official in the state.
"I think the biggest thing is that he is real and has had real experiences that are similar to other people in the state," Kerr said. "I think Fabian is a good speaker who knows the issues and is in a position of real power in Sacramento in a way we haven't seen since term limits (began)."
Richard Costigan, Schwarzenegger's legislative affairs secretary, doesn't believe Núñez's aggressive style is a hindrance to making a deal and actually believes it helps.
"Over the last three years, I have sat back and admired how the speaker has grown," Costigan said. "I'm an aggressive person. I think that's good. An aggressive person comes up with aggressive solutions."
While Núñez, who won the speakership as a freshman legislator, prepares for the squabbles, electioneering and battles with the governor, he reiterated that he was still willing to compromise - up to a point.
"I'm not in any shape or form a capitulator," he said. "I'm a negotiator, and I want to get things done. I know that people don't always get things they want, that you have to find the common ground. Sometimes you get a little more and sometimes you get a little less."
As for future office, while others mentioned Congress or heading back to labor organizations, Núñez, who is termed-out in 2008, said he has no idea.
"I'm ambitious, but I'm not so ambitious that I'm plotting out my next move," he said. "The way I look at it is if I work hard and do a good job, ultimately something good will come up."
Fabian supports Phil Angelides for Gubinor, btw.
piece
Yeah, he sure is an interesting "piece", alright. I'm sure he'll make a fantastic Congressman, from North Korea.
As the tsunami of illegal immigration washes over California expect to see more and more anchor babies like Nunez ascend to positions of power in the California Legislature.
Their cultural biases will, at first, be restrained but as they gain a plurality expect expect more forceful expressions of cultural favoritism. Within the lifetime of my children, Californians of Europen ancestory will be a protected minority under California law.
That'll be throwing more money down a rat hole.
"Voters want us to set our priorities first
His priority is to spend more money.
... and then figure how to fund them."
Raise taxes, of course.
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