Speaker-elect takes the stage

Cheers, jokes and standing ovations marked Assemblywoman Karen Bass' ascension to speaker-elect of the lower house Thursday, but once the smiles died, speculation ran rampant.

The first African American woman to be named leader of a California legislative house, Bass savored the moment while others pondered whether she will differ in style or substance from outgoing Speaker Fabian Núñez.

Bass declined to comment on the question, shortly after the Assembly ratified her selection by voice vote, with no dissenters.

"I'm still trying to come to grips with what's just happened," Bass said, smiling.

Bass, 54, has served the past two years as the top lieutenant for Núñez, a fellow Los Angeles resident and liberal Democrat who rallied support behind the scenes Wednesday in the final frenzied hours that secured her new post.

Bass' ties to Núñez also extend to Proposition 93, a failed Feb. 5 ballot initiative that would have allowed him more years in office. She solicited nearly $100,000 for the measure.

The speaker-elect will work with Núñez in coming months, then transition into the top job.

Assemblyman Charles Calderon, a Whittier Democrat who was one of 10 candidates for Assembly leader, described Bass as sincere, intelligent, honest and compassionate. But she must assert her own stamp on the job, Calderon said.

"It is what it is," he said of Bass' similarities to Núñez. "She was majority leader. He did help her get elected, and yeah, they're close friends. She now has to start establishing herself in her own right, or everyone will still be going to Fabian to talk to Karen, that kind of thing."

Unlike the flashy Núñez, Bass is more low-key, less fiery and more likely to delegate authority, many colleagues say.

Núñez has sparked grumbling within the Democratic caucus in recent years by personally carrying many of the biggest bills, including measures to fight global warming and overhaul the state's health-care system.

Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, a San Francisco Democrat who vied for the speakership, said that Bass – who will be termed out in 2010 – consistently reaches out to Assembly colleagues.

"She realizes that she's only going to be here for a certain amount of time, and that we all have goals that we want to accomplish," Ma said.

Ma said the new Assembly leader differs from Núñez in approach, but not necessarily in effectiveness.

"I think she's more of a consensus builder," she said. "I think she's going to bring more people to the table. She may decentralize a lot of activities."

Bass is an aggressive fundraiser, a key test for party leaders. She has solicited more than $1 million in campaign contributions since 2004.

"Without comparing them, Karen is an optimistic, tenacious, inclusive, warm, generous, compassionate person," said Assemblyman Mike Feuer, D-Los Angeles. "She will, I think, bring all those qualities to bear in a marvelous way as speaker."

Assembly Republican leader Mike Villines said Bass is trustworthy and dependable, but not likely to alter Democratic priorities.

"The Democratic caucus is very, very liberal," he said. "It will be the same liberal stuff coming out. The liberal churn will continue."

Bass' first elective office was her current Assembly seat, won in 2004. She is a former leader of the nonprofit Community Coalition, which pushed after the 1992 Rodney King riots in Los Angeles to replace burned-out liquor stores with more genteel businesses.

"I am deeply honored and deeply humbled by the trust that you have placed in me," Bass told colleagues Thursday. "Please know that I will work to be deserving of that trust every single day I serve as your speaker."

The brief ceremony had its share of lighthearted moments.

Assemblyman Mervyn Dymally, D-Compton, said he attended church with Bass last Sunday. His legs began hurting, so he sat to ease the pain.

"She said, 'Why aren't you standing up?' Dymally recalled, smiling. "I said, 'I'm praying for you.' "

Bass is an outspoken liberal who has voted for numerous Democratic causes, including gay marriage, universal health care, and allowing illegal immigrants to apply for college aid and driver's licenses.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said he has worked collaboratively with Núñez and expects to do so with Bass.

"I look forward to building on this partnership … and achieving the same kinds of bipartisan success," he said in a written statement.

Bass, a former nurse, said she isn't looking forward to stepping into Schwarzenegger's cigar-smoking tent, however.

"I'm going to have to make him come out of the smoking tent," Bass said, smiling. "That's going to make me sick."

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