Features

SACRAMENTO — Gov. Gray Davis has announced that he will not take a position on Proposition 45, the ballot measure that would ease term limits in the state Legislature. 

The governor’s announcement Saturday runs counter to his own Democratic Party, which has poured $3.2 million to back the initiative. His neutral stance also differs from Democratic legislators who have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars in support of Prop. 45. 

The initiative is opposed by the state Republican Party and by all three of Davis’ GOP challengers for governor — former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan, businessman Bill Simon Jr. and Secretary of State Bill Jones. 

Recent polls show the measure trailing slightly among likely voters, but a large portion of the electorate remains undecided. 

If the measure fails, several Democratic lawmakers would be required to leave the Legislature in 2004.