The Sacramento Bee

‘Nice guy’ says he’s a fighter
Sacramentan brings focus on public service to Senate post

February 17, 2008
By Aurelio Rojas

Fellow Democrats on Feb. 7 designated Sen. Darrell Steinberg to be the next leader of the California Senate.

Steinberg, 48, will take over in November under a timeline established by Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata.

Steinberg will be the first Sacramentan to hold the top leadership post in the Senate in 125 years.

In an interview last week, the Bay Area transplant said he looks forward to the challenge.

Q: What kind of legwork did you do to become Senate president pro tem?
A: I've been working in public service for 15 years. And I have been consistent in the way that I have approached my work, always trying to focus on the product. To me, you measure yourself in this business by what you get done for people. The fact is, I'd worked for years with most of my colleagues in the Democratic caucus. And while I was a new senator, I was in my seventh year in the Legislature, which in the term limits era makes me a grizzled veteran. So my colleagues know me, we've worked closely together. And I think my success is built upon those shared experiences.

Q: You've read what's been said about you. Smart, nice guy, clean. Maybe too nice. Are you tough enough for the job?
A: Ah, geez. It's become kind of a running joke – the "nice guy thing." People confuse "nice" with lack of steel or lack of resolve. If you look back at my history, before politics, I was a lawyer for people who were victims of employment discrimination. And the thing that people miss – and it's awkward to talk about yourself and your personality – is that I fight. I fight for what I believe in. And I fight hard. And I will continue to do so. That's why I'm in this business. Whether it's for my client. Whether it's for one of my causes. Whether it's for making the Legislature work more effectively, I'm a fighter. I'm not afraid of conflict or confrontation, but I also don't personalize battles. … I don't take myself too seriously. I'd rather fight with a smile.

Q: What are you going to do until you become president pro tem? Are you going to sit at your desk and be just another member of the Senate?
A: No, no. Sen. Perata and I have a very good relationship. I'm very comfortable with the situation because, 1: There can only be one leader at a time. And 2: We have a good relationship. We're obviously going to be talking a lot. I want to support him this year. And I've got plenty to do.

Q: Can you fix a $14.5 billion budget deficit without new taxes?
A: In the end, I don't think so. We can't cut our way out of this without really hurting people and the investments that are so crucial to the quality of life in California. Look at education. It's not just about money. The Stanford (University) report from last year talked about the need to combine reform with more resources. And I agree with that. We're 46th in the nation in per pupil spending. School districts are very worried, March 15th is coming – the time for issuing layoff notices. We're not going to decimate public education.

Q: What type of taxes do you think can sell in the Legislature? And how are you going to get Republican votes?
A: I don't know. We're not leading with taxes. Let's be very clear about that. One of the things, I think, we all agree upon – we have to cut first. And we have to show that we're serious about that. When you look at the differences in ideology between Democrats and Republicans, the cuts we made (last week) I didn't want to make. We're not happy about it. It's actually inconsistent with the motivation that brought many of us, from our side of the aisle, to public office. But we have to do the responsible thing here … and so, we are going to cut. Hopefully, responsibly. I think on the other side of the aisle, we need a similar mindset over time. I have no illusions about it, however. I've been here seven years where the issue of tax increases has come up – we've talked about bridging the deficit – but there aren't the votes. The system is the system. I don't think we can wait and rely on it. But I do think that we have to make the case over time about what California wants – quality public services. And if we want them, we have to pay for them.

Q: If you can ever fix the deficit, what would you like to accomplish?
A: My No. 1 priority – what I think should be the state's No. 1 priority – is public education. … The governor and I have a very good relationship – he talks about the year of education, I think every year should be the year of education. I have really taken on this issue of the high school dropout rate, not as the be-all and end-all, but as sort of an entry point into the broader issue of education reform. Here would be my vision: I would like us, for example, to take the emerging green economy and public education reform and merge them. The governor has talked a lot about career technical education, which is great. But we need to bring it to scale. What if, for example, in this state, we rewarded emerging green industries with help in capital formation or other parts of their business if they agree to go into high schools and help educate, apprentice, provide after-school activities and provide career path training for young people who otherwise are going to be one of those statistics?

Q: You could still be president pro tem in 2011 when new legislative voting districts are drawn. Should the Legislature turn that responsibility over to an independent commission?
A: I support redistricting reform. … It just makes sense to take it out of the hands of the (Legislature), just from a perception point of view. But beyond that, from a partisan point of view, I don't think this system is working very well for the causes we believe in. I would rather have some more competitive seats and take the chance that our ideas are better than theirs and take the chance to get to 27 or 28 (Democratic members of the Senate, compared to 25 right now) … even knowing that there's a potential we could go to 24 or 23.

Q: Finally, you will become the first president pro tem from Sacramento since 1883. What does this mean for residents of the region?
A: I'm very proud to represent a capital city and the county of the capital … My job, obviously, will be to represent the entire state of California. At the same time, when it comes to issues that matter most to Sacramento – whether it be flood control, whether it be economic development, whether it be parks – I can be of help.

***