This is interesting. Maybe we can start seeing some things happen in Sacramento's favor.
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Steinberg to replace Perata atop Senate
By Aurelio Rojas -
arojas@sacbee.com
Sen. Darrell Steinberg of Sacramento was designated Thursday by his fellow Democrats to be the next president pro tem of the California Senate, beating out Sen. Alex Padilla, who conceded after the two had lunch.
Under a transition process established by Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata, a formal vote will not be taken until Aug. 21 and Perata will continue as the Senate's leader until November.
When Steinberg, 48, takes the reins, he will become the first Sacramentan to hold the top leadership post in the Legislature's upper house since 1883.
During a Capitol news conference, the liberal lawmaker thanked his colleagues and showered Padilla with praise.
Steinberg, a former administrative law judge whose congeniality has won him many admirers in the Capitol, also emphasized that Perata is still the boss.
"I am not the pro tem, nor will I be until some time in November," said Steinberg, a seven-year veteran of the Legislature who began his career as a lawyer representing state employees. "I am a team player, and you will not see an inch distance between Sen. Perata and myself."
The announcement came two days after voters defeated a ballot measure that would have relaxed term limits and allowed Perata, D-Oakland, to remain in office four more years.
It was expected it would take some time for Steinberg and Padilla – who had positioned themselves as the only two candidates – to secure the 13 Democratic votes needed to succeed Perata.
But during a meeting Wednesday of the 25-member Democratic caucus, it became obvious that Steinberg had more than enough support.
Steinberg, who served six years in the Assembly, had a sizable edge in experience in the Capitol, where he's earned a reputation as prolific legislator and fundraiser.
Padilla, 34, recently completed his first year in the Legislature after serving on the Los Angeles City Council, where he was council president.
Although no vote was taken Thursday, caucus members called for an end to the campaigning so that they could concentrate on dealing with the state's projected $14.5 billion deficit.
"It was clear that there was a level of respect for Sen. Steinberg and there was a firm consensus in caucus," said Padilla, who joined Steinberg and Perata at the news conference.
But before Padilla would concede, he asked to speak privately with Steinberg – and the two headed out to lunch at the Riverside Clubhouse, where Steinberg picked up the bill.
Padilla said Steinberg did not make him any power-sharing offers on committee appointment or other issues. "But one thing that became clear to me as I was talking to my colleagues is that Darrell Steinberg is not only liked as a nice guy, but tremendously respected, including by me," Padilla said.
Padilla, who represents a working-class district in the San Fernando Valley, said many of his district's needs "that I'm here fighting for are issues that Darrell Steinberg has been championing for years."
Steinberg called Padilla "a rising star," adding that he looks forward to working with him "in full partnership."
Steinberg, who served on the Sacramento City Council, will be the first Senate president from Sacramento since Republican William Johnston held the post from 1881 to 1883.
"When it is my turn I will give every ounce of intellect, every ounce of energy, every ounce of passion I have to make sure that the people of California are well-served," he said.
Steinberg, the driving force behind a 2004 voter-approved tax on millionaires that last year provided $1.5 billion for mental health services, also vowed to remain an advocate "for people who too often don't have a voice" in the Legislature.
Perata said he would follow the model established by his predecessor, former President Pro Tem John Burton, in which the new president pro tem takes the reins of the caucus at the end of the legislative session.
"That will allow us to have a smooth transition at the end of the year from one pro tem to another and allow us to immediately spend our time in the most consequential manner and that's the budget," Perata said.
Steinberg said the challenges that California faces are "immense," but he called himself "a believer in the possible."
As an example, he cited expanding technical education to lower the high school dropout rate – a concept that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has embraced.
Steinberg will not be forced to leave the Senate until 2014.
Political analysts say his tenure is likely to markedly increase the Sacramento region's clout in the Legislature.
"My motto is very simple: Sacramento deserves a leader every 125 years," Steinberg quipped.
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