The perception that former L.A. Mayor Richard Riordan is more closely aligned with Democrats than Republicans in his quest for the Republican gubernatorial nomination was reinforced recently with word of Republican departures from the campaign and the formation of a statewide “Democrats for Riordan” group.

First, Riordan’s top campaign spokesman, Republican commentator and party operative Dan Schnur, left, saying he had some minor differences with the Riordan camp but still supported the former mayor’s gubernatorial bid. Then came word that deputy campaign director Fiona Hutton and speechwriter Bill Whelan left the campaign this month.

Meanwhile, Democratic pollster Pat Caddell has started a “Democrats for Riordan” group, which also includes Democratic campaign consultant and USC professor Susan Estrich.

And Bay Area Democrat Clint Reilly, who has advised the campaigns of both California Senators Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein, has announced that he is once again a lead advisor to Riordan. Reilly had a prominent role in Riordan’s campaign this spring, but laid low during the summer.

Riordan’s Republican primary opponents Secretary of State Bill Jones and L.A. area investment banker Bill Simon have been quick to label these moves as the latest sign that Riordan is a “Republican in name only.”

But Riordan campaign spokeswoman Carolina Guevara said that each of the departures was a separate issue and was not a sign of a collective Republican disillusionment with the campaign.

“We’ve got a strong Republican team running the campaign,” Guevara said. “And those Democrats you referred to are not on the core campaign staff. They are actually a sign of strength, that Riordan is reaching out to win over the Democrats he will need to beat Gray Davis and become governor.”

Workers’ Comp

Now that Gov. Gray Davis has vetoed for the third consecutive year an increase in workers’ compensation benefit payments, California employers are bracing for the prospect of an initiative on the November 2002 state ballot.

A coalition of labor unions and trial attorneys is following through on the threat made earlier this summer by Senate President Pro-tempore John Burton and is preparing an initiative that would increase the state’s benefit levels to the national average.

This coalition, led by the California Labor Federation, says the state ranks 49th in payments to injured workers. Boosting payments to the national average would require an increase far greater than was contained in the Burton bill Davis vetoed. Their campaign is likely to focus on the plight of injured workers who receive little or no payments.

Employer advocates have a different view. They say California ranks 29th or 30th in payments to injured workers.

Nonetheless, employer groups, led by the California Chamber of Commerce and the California Coalition on Workers’ Compensation, say that if the issue does make it to the ballot, they will raise tens of millions to oppose it. “This issue belongs in the Legislature,” said CCWC executive director Lori Kammerer.

She added that their campaign would likely hone in on public sector agencies that would have to spend millions more on workers’ comp costs if the initiative passed, leaving less for essential public services.

With the signature-gathering deadline in March, there is still a chance that a compromise could emerge in the Legislature when it reconvenes in January. However, Capitol watchers say the recent animosity between Davis and Burton makes that unlikely.

Staff Reporter Howard Fine can be contacted by phone at (323) 549-5225, ext. 227 or by e-mail at [email protected].