Calif. Lt. Gov. Bustamante won't run if Davis recall qualifies

By ERICA WERNER
Associated Press Writer

LOS ANGELES (AP) Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante ended weeks of speculation Thursday by announcing he would not run for governor if a Republican-led campaign to recall fellow Democrat Gov. Gray Davis makes it to the ballot.

``I will not participate in any way other than to urge voters to reject this expensive perversion of the recall process. I will not attempt to advance my career at the expense of the people I was elected to serve,'' Bustamante said in a statement.

``I do not intend to put my name on that ballot.''

The announcement comes as a major boost to Davis, who can now claim near-unity among the state's leading Democratic officeholders in opposing the recall and pledging not to run themselves. Earlier this week, Attorney General Bill Lockyer and state Treasurer Phil Angelides said they had no intention of running.

Lockyer, Angelides and Bustamante all participated in a meeting over the weekend where labor leaders, among Davis' most powerful backers, urged a united front in supporting the governor.

U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, considered the strongest potential Democratic candidate, still has not definitively ruled out a run.

Recall proponents have until Sept. 2 to collect nearly 900,000 signatures to get the measure on the ballot. They want to submit the needed signatures next month to force a special election in the fall.

The recall is being backed largely by donations from Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Vista, a socially conservative multimillionaire who wants Davis' job. Other potential candidates on the Republican side are actor Arnold Schwarzenegger and failed GOP gubernatorial nominee Bill Simon.

But the unusual ballot format created an opportunity for Democrats too. Voters would be able to vote ``yes'' or ``no'' on recalling Davis, then choose from a list of potential candidates of any political party with whoever gets the most votes winning.

Political analysts believe that if the recall qualifies, Davis' chances of surviving will be better if there are no Democratic alternatives.

(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)