Leaders to stump for Hwy. 99

Governor, state Senate leader will plug bond in Fresno.

By E.J. Schultz / Bee Capitol Bureau

(Updated Sunday, October 8, 2006, 6:30 AM)

SACRAMENTO — Gov. Schwarzenegger and one of the state's top Democrats will come to Fresno on Tuesday to stump for the public works bond package that voters will consider in November.

The appearance — at a truck dealership along Highway 99 — will mark the first time Schwarzenegger and Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata, D-Oakland, campaign together for the $37 billion bond package, which includes a $1billion earmark for Highway 99, as well as money for school construction, flood protection, housing and transportation.

Fresno Mayor Alan Autry, a Republican, and Sen. Dean Florez, D-Shafter, will join the two leaders, giving the event a bipartisan flair unusual so close to an election.

Though it could be politically awkward, Democratic leaders have long said they would promote the bonds alongside the Republican governor. But the bipartisan spirit seemed to wane last week when Perata and Assembly Speaker Fabián Núñez, D-Los Angeles, pulled out of several scheduled appearances at the last minute, opting only to appear with the governor at a private bond campaign fundraiser in Los Angeles.

Perata, who has downplayed last week's incident, said "people have to know that this is something that both Democrats and Republicans agreed upon."

Núñez will not attend the Fresno event because he is traveling out of state, said spokesman Steve Maviglio.

Not all Republicans are on board with the bonds. Assembly Member Mike Villines, R-Clovis, for instance, has argued against them, saying the state can't afford the borrowing. And though Autry will appear Tuesday, he said he is still undecided on the housing and school bonds.

When the Legislature passed the bonds earlier this year, Autry complained loudly that the flood bond didn't include money for a Fresno-area dam. He said on Friday that he now supports the flood and transportation bonds: "They're not perfect, but I think it's something that we need to do."

The focus of Tuesday's event is a $19.9billion transportation bond, which includes the Highway 99 money. The pro-bond campaign recently bought space on 13 billboards along the highway, said Paul Hefner, a spokesman for the campaign, called Rebuild California Plan. With the tagline "something for us for a change," the billboard advertisements will urge Valley residents — who often feel overlooked by Sacramento — to support the bonds, he said.

Tuesday's event is scheduled for 1:30p.m. at the Fresno Truck Center at 2727 E. Central Ave.

The reporter can be reached at eschultz@fresnobee.com or (916) 326-5541.