Moderate Lewis Wins 3rd-Ranking Position in House GOP Leadership

WASHINGTON — Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-Redlands) eked out a three-vote victory Monday to become chairman of the House Republican Conference, the third-ranking post in the chamber’s GOP leadership.

Lewis, a five-term veteran, defeated Rep. Lynn Martin (R-Ill.), blocking her bid to become the first woman to be elevated to the Republican high command in Congress.

The victory puts the California lawmaker, considered a moderate in the GOP ranks, on track for the highest positions in the House Republican power structure.

Lewis, a member of the powerful Appropriations Committee, does most of his work out of the congressional limelight but has a reputation as a skillful political negotiator. A close ally of Republican leader Robert H. Michel, the 54-year-old Lewis is viewed by some observers as a possible future Republican leader or party whip.

“It’s one thing to win an election and another thing to win an election against people you respect,” said Lewis after the vote. After the first ballot, Lewis had 81 votes, Martin had 80 and a third contender, Rep. William E. Dannemeyer (R-Fullerton), had seven votes and dropped from the race.

On the decisive second ballot, Lewis picked up four additional votes to achieve a majority.

Lewis acknowledged that he may have benefitted from widespread reports that Martin, a four-term member of the House, is in line for a Cabinet post in the George Bush Administration.

“Without the stories of her possible appointment to the Cabinet, the outcome might have been different,” Lewis said in his acceptance speech.

In another contest, Rep. Duncan L. Hunter (R-Coronado) defeated Rep. Steve Bartlett (D-Tex.) to become chairman of the GOP research committee, usually regarded as an entry-level job on the Republican leadership team. The vote was not announced.

Another Californian, Rep. Robert J. Lagomarsino (R-Ojai) lost his bid to replace Martin as vice chairman of the conference in a race against Rep. Bill McCollum (R-Fla.).