-- Campaign For Old Growth | Davis's Promise --

Sacramento-Lt. Gov. Gray Davis, hunting the support of environmentalists for his gubernatorial campaign, told conservationists Saturday that as governor he would ban the logging of old-growth trees.

Davis, in a major environmental address to the Planning and Conservation League Foundation, promised to ensure that "wetlands are preserved, rivers are clean and all old-growth trees are spared from the lumberjack's ax."

Davis did not discuss the most controversial issue of the day - the roller coaster negotiations over preservation of the ancient Headwaters Forest.

Davis, the only gubernatorial candidate to accept the group's invitation to speak, said his 12-year tenure on the State Lands Commission reflected his pro-environmental position. His votes on that three-member panel, which has jurisdiction over California's coastal waters and inland rivers and waterways, included the rejection of a number of oil and gas exploration leases and a ban on discharging PCPs into Santa Monica Bay.

"It (the commission) may be to some an obscure state agency, but believe me, we have left our mark," Davis told the foundation, which supports his candidacy. The group, part of a grass-roots political organization that raises funds for environmental causes, met in the cavernous lobby of a local utility company's customer service headquarters.

The commission is composed two elected officials - the controller and lieutenant governor - and the director of the state Finance Department, who writes the governor's budgets. Davis served on the commission during his two terms as controller and his single term as lieutenant governor.

Three other gubernatorial hopefuls, wealthy Democrats Jane Harman and Al Checchi, and GOP front-runner Dan Lungren, declined the foundation's invitations to appear, said PCL executive director Gerald Meral.

By targeting environmental issues, Davis seeks to tap into the well-heeled political backing of the mainstream conservationists. The PCL has long supported Davis: Both Davis and Meral noted that the organization has worked agreeably with Davis since his days as chief of staff to former Gov. Jerry Brown.

While his rivals have decried Davis' linkage to Brown, Davis praised his association with the former governor, who he described as "California's last environmental governor."

"He (Brown) was remarkably innovative, very bright and ahead of his time," Davis added.

Davis, 55, also jokingly raised the issue of his charisma - or lack of it - as a political plus, noting that California's last four gubernatorial races had been won by less than -exciting Republican candidates.

Wilson, who is "dull as dishwater," beat Dianne Feinstein and Kathleen Brown, while George Deukmejian defeated the exciting and charismatic Tom Bradley, the former mayor of Los Angeles, Davis said.

"So, I'm just fine," he said.