Former California GOP governor George Deukmejian dies at 89

Former California Gov. George Deukmejian, a Republican who garnered a reputation as an advocate for law and order during his two terms in the governor’s mansion, died on Tuesday. He was 89. 

Deukmejian passed away at his home in Long Beach, Calif., the Los Angeles Times reported. 

In his two terms in the California governor’s mansion from 1983 until 1991, Deukmejian was known as an anti-spending, budget hard-liner, and earned himself the nickname the “Iron Duke.”

{mosads}

The former governor also expanded the state prison system, appointed a number of conservative judges to lower courts throughout the state and remade the left-leaning California Supreme Court.

Deukmejian’s career as a public servant spanned much more than his eight years in the governor’s mansion. He spent four years in the California state Assembly and then another 12 years in the state Senate.

From there he went on to serve as the state’s attorney general from 1979 until he became governor in 1983. 

Deukmejian’s tenure was defined by tough fiscal management. When he took office, he inherited a $1.5 billion deficit — a shortfall that he was eventually able to erase. 

But an economic downturn toward the end of his time in office eliminated the gains his administration had made, and he left his successor, former Gov. Pete Wilson, with an even larger deficit.