SACRAMENTO (AP) - Only a few months removed from one of the most divisive political events in California history, new leaders of the state Assembly pledged Monday to set aside partisan bickering in an effort to bring better governance to the Capitol.

Incoming Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, D-Los Angeles, and newly elected Assembly Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Bakersfield, emerged from their first leadership meeting saying that the Oct. 7 recall election showed voters are tired of "politics as usual."

Voters recalled Democratic Gov. Gray Davis at midterm and replaced him with Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger, a movie star and bodybuilder who had never held political office.

"It's a new time, a new era," said McCarthy. "I think people are looking for bipartisanship, they are looking for a Legislature that's out to solve problems."

Nunez noted that he and McCarthy are close friends, having come into the Assembly together as freshmen last year. "We can agree to disagree on those issues that we clearly have differences," he said. "But on those issues that are important to moving California forward, we will be working very hard."

The pair gave no details of how they will cooperate, but Nunez said their meeting before the Legislature comes back into session next week shows how serious they are.

"I think you will see a very practical approach to dealing with the budget from the leadership level," Nunez said.

Both men will assume their roles officially on Jan. 1, and both will take over from lawmakers who will be termed out after November. McCarthy takes over for Dave Cox, R-Fair Oaks, who is running for the Senate. Nunez replaces Herb Wesson, D-Culver City, who has not said what office, if any, he might run for next.