Reagan Asked to Discipline Daughter for Backing Picus

Republican activist Jeanne Nemo, who is opposing Los Angeles City Councilwoman Joy Picus in Tuesday’s election, Sunday sent a letter to President Reagan asking him to discipline his daughter Maureen, who sent out a letter of support for Picus, a Democrat.

Nemo said she wants Maureen Reagan fired from her job at the Republican National Committee, where, Nemo said, the President’s daughter is supposed to work to help elect Republican women to political office.

Maureen Reagan’s letter of support for Picus arrived Saturday at Republican homes, including Nemo’s, in the West San Fernando Valley’s 3rd District. The City Council office is nonpartisan.

In her letter to the President, Nemo said, “As someone who has worked for your election to the presidency since 1976 and who, at your request, served in your 1980 and 1984 delegations to the Republican National Convention, I am offended by the letter from your daughter Maureen to voters in the Los Angeles City Council’s 3rd District in support of my opponent, Joy Picus, a liberal Democrat and Mondale delegate in 1984.

“Is this how Republican loyalists and GOP women in particular can expect to be treated by this Administration and by employees of the Republican National Committee?”

Maureen Reagan could not be reached for comment.

Picus, who backed Democratic candidate Walter Mondale against President Reagan last year, said Sunday, “I’m saddened by her (Nemo’s) effort to turn this into a partisan campaign. I’ve never run my office in a partisan fashion. I’m proud of the fact that I’ve always had support from Democrats and Republicans.”

In the nonpartisan West Valley race for the Los Angeles school board, two candidates who are Republicans appeared on campaign mailers containing slates headed by Democrats.

Republican David Armor helped finance a mailer prepared by Berman and D’Agostino Campaigns Inc., the group managing the campaign for city attorney candidate Lisa Specht, a Democrat.

Armor’s name appeared on a one-page ballot recommendation list inserted into an envelope that featured the name of another prominent Democrat, District Attorney Ira Reiner, in the return address area. The mailer was targeted at West Valley Democratic households, and the voting recommendation list was headed by Mayor Tom Bradley, also a Democrat.

Beneath the names of the recommended candidates there was a statement: “candidate selection based on qualifications, not party affiliation.” A small section on Armor contained the statement, “David Armor’s background and integrity make him the best choice for Democrats.”

Candidate Carie Vacar, a Republican, helped pay for a mailer with city attorney candidate James K. Hahn, a Democrat, heading the slate. The slate, which also featured Republican Celes King III, a city controller candidate, contained pictures of Gov. George Deukmejian and President Reagan, both Republicans.