By JIM SANDERS
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Once an amateur boxer, Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez is no stranger to a slugfest or a political controversy.
Now Nunez is preparing for another bout _ one to extend his legacy, and tenure, as speaker.
Nunez is banned by state law from serving another term as head of the Legislature's lower house. But he is pushing to change that.
"I'd like to stick around this job another four to six years," he said. "I think it would be great, if the voters give us an opportunity and if my members continue to support my leadership."
The Los Angeles Democrat is promoting a plan to alter term limits by allowing lawmakers to serve up to 12 years in the state Assembly or Senate, or a combination of both.
From pugilist to politician, Nunez refuses to be counted out.
Nunez, one of 12 children of Mexican immigrants _ his father was a gardener, his mother a maid _ had never held public office before joining the Assembly in 2002. Yet he ascended to leader in his freshman term.
Fast forward four years, and Nunez, 40, has grown into arguably the most powerful Assembly speaker since Willie Brown.
His influence has skyrocketed through strong ties to organized labor, big-bucks fundraising and a growing friendship with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. He operates with a high-energy style, a willingness to butt heads, and a penchant for pushing major, high-profile legislation.
"He has emerged, I think, as a real power," said Bob Stern, president of the Center for Governmental Studies in Los Angeles.
But critics claim that Nunez _ a champion of Latino and gay rights _ tilts too far to the left, gives Republicans short shrift, and excessively polishes his own image for higher office.
"He's grandiose in his thinking," said Kevin Spillane, a GOP political consultant. "And when politicians get grandiose, they often get into trouble."
Nunez, who claims to "thrive on controversy," has done much as Assembly leader, including:
Propose and pass a first-of-its-kind California law to commit the state to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Strike deals with Schwarzenegger to raise the state's minimum wage and to force drug companies to offer discounts to people lacking health insurance.
Craft successful legislation to allow telephone companies to offer cable TV programming.
Permit a partial takeover of the Los Angeles Unified School District by Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, an effort currently stalled in the courts.
Meanwhile, he racked up a ton of frequent-flier miles. He has traveled to the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, to Sweden and France to study preschool education, to Maui for a prison officers' conference and to Mexico to visit then-President Vicente Fox.
Around the Capitol, he is generous with those who work with him. But he can turn on those who don't.
He rewarded 20 of his top staffers last year with raises of 8 percent or more, including a $30,000 pay hike to Dan Eaton, his chief of staff, whose salary is $200,000.
But when Assemblyman Juan Arambula angered the speaker on a bond vote last year, Nunez banished the Fresno Democrat to the Capitol's tiniest office and temporarily stripped him of a committee chairmanship.
Arambula said he understands.
"What I can say is I've developed a very high respect for the difficulty of his position and how well he handles it," he said.
Apparently, so does Assemblywoman Bonnie Garcia, a Cathedral City Republican who was targeted for defeat by Nunez last year. She bears no grudge.
"His job is to take me out, and my job is to stay in," she said. "But outside of politics and the political arena, I have a great deal of respect for him."
Nunez, who helped lead the successful fight against Schwarzenegger's slate of GOP ballot initiatives in 2005, is known to poke fun at himself.
Twice married to the same woman, Nunez drew chuckles recently in his acceptance speech for another term as speaker.
"I must admit, it is the nicest vote of confidence I have received since Maria agreed to remarry me," he said, smiling.
"I've officially been speaker again for five minutes," he added. "Already, I've got six members who want a different office, three who want a different chief of staff and one who wants a different seat mate."
Schwarzenegger, in a written statement, said his relationship with Nunez "exemplifies the kind of leadership that will continue to move California forward."
Nunez said he hasn't forgotten his humble roots growing up in San Diego.
"Whether it's the janitorial staff or the person washing dishes at a restaurant, you're no more important than anybody else," he said.
The Assembly speaker said he is driven by policy goals, not prestige or higher office.
Nunez and Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata favor moving the presidential primary from June to February, which supporters claim would give California more clout.
The two also plan to consider proposals to let an independent commission, rather than legislators, draw legislative districts.
The relationship between the Assembly and the Senate occasionally has been testy. Last year, each side blamed the other for torpedoing a redistricting bill.
Yet Perata insists Nunez is an ally, not a rival.
"We have different world views, different interests ... but he is a remarkably skilled politician, particularly for his age," Perata said. "He's a real talent."
Perata and Nunez vow to work together to revamp term limits, which they argue will provide for a more experienced Legislature.
The duo also would benefit personally from passage of a term-limits measure in an early primary: Nunez could stay in office for six additional years, Perata for four. Assembly members are now limited to three two-year terms and state senators are capped at two four-year terms.
Nunez, with more than $7 million in campaign coffers, says he isn't desperate to stay in office.
But Spillane, the GOP consultant, counters that Nunez clearly savors the Capitol spotlight.
"You can just see the glee on his face, sitting in the limousine with the driver taking him around," Spillane said. "So I'm not surprised that he's willing to do whatever it takes to hang on to that."
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