Governor Denies Insurance Chief Was Fired for Stand

Gov. George Deukmejian, in a Los Angeles press conference Monday, brushed aside suggestions that he had fired Insurance Commissioner Bruce Bunner for advocating that insurance companies be forced to sell liability coverage to local governments and others who have not been able to obtain it.

Bunner’s resignation was announced by the governor’s office Friday, one day after the commissioner made his get-tough proposal for dealing with the state’s liability insurance problems.

The suddenness of Bunner’s resignation drew caustic comment from consumer spokesmen and Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley, the Democratic gubernatorial nominee, who characterized the departure as a firing.

But Deukmejian heatedly denied there was any connection between Bunner’s advocacy of insurance industry controls and his resignation.

“No, not at all,” Deukmejian said. “That whole story has been misreported. It didn’t work that way at all. Unfortunately, the reporting on that situation was very inaccurate.”

The governor said Bunner came to him in April and said he wanted to leave his job.

“And so it just became a matter then of giving us a little time to talk to a few people and just try to decide who was going to take his place,” Deukmejian said.

“When that was determined, we had further discussions with him (Bunner). He was the one who set the date,” Deukmejian said.

Deukmejian disputed reports quoting Bunner as saying he was surprised by the speed with which his resignation was accepted and announced.

“Again, I have to tell you that was misreported. That was not what he said to the reporter.”

Bunner told a Times reporter Friday afternoon that while he had informed Deukmejian “earlier this year” that he wished to give up his post sometime before the November election, he had not been informed that the resignation would be announced Friday. He specifically denied that he had agreed upon a date with Deukmejian.

Bunner could not immediately be reached for further comment.

Deukmejian said he was “very satisfied” with Bunner’s stewardship of the department.

“He would still be the insurance commissioner had he not, for his own personal reasons, decided he had to leave state government,” Deukmejian said.

Deukmejian declined comment on the merits of Bunner’s plan to force insurance companies to write liability policies, saying he would “speak specifically” about insurance reform Tuesday at a League of Cities legislative meeting in Sacramento.

Although it was dominated by a discussion of the insurance department developments, Deukmejian’s press conference was organized to announce that he has received the endorsements of more than two dozen county supervisors, mayors and council members from across the state.

Among the two dozen gathered behind Deukmejian in the Los Angeles County Hall of Administration mall downtown were Los Angeles Supervisor Deane Dana and Los Angeles City Councilman Hal Bernson.

Later in the day, Deukmejian received the endorsement of the California State Sheriffs’ Assn.

The endorsement came after Deukmejian told a group of 36 county sheriffs meeting in Sunnyvale that he had a better record in law enforcement than Bradley.

Sticking to reelection campaign themes, Deukmejian criticized Bradley for Los Angeles Police Department budget cuts, and for refusing to take a position on the November confirmation election of state Chief Justice Rose Elizabeth Bird.

In remarks to reporters later, Deukmejian said he would not be coordinating his campaign with other Republican candidates in the fall election, such as GOP lieutenant governor candidate Mike Curb. But he predicted that if he ran well, he could carry other Republicans on his political coattails.

“If we run very strong, then not only people like Mike Curb but others on the state ticket as well as some of the Assembly and Senate candidates should also do well.”

In something of a surprise, the sheriffs’ group endorsed Democratic incumbent Lt. Gov. Leo T. McCarthy over Curb. Both men fought hard for the endorsement, with Curb stressing his opposition to the chief justice. The association is on record as opposing Bird.

McCarthy supports the justice’s bid for another 12-year term, but in a speech to the sheriffs that followed Deukmejian’s, he asked them to consider his record of support for law enforcement legislation, first as a speaker of the Assembly and then as lieutenant governor.

Cathleen Decker reported from Los Angeles and Douglas Shuit reported from Sunnyvale.