Stations Urged to Furlough Commentator

California Common Cause, a political reform group, Thursday called on KABC-TV and KABC radio in Los Angeles to give commentator Bruce Herschensohn a leave of absence while he explores a run for the 1986 Republican Senate nomination.

Herschensohn has not formally announced that he is a candidate for the Senate. But he has set up an exploratory committee and, according to adviser Fred Balitzer, has raised about $300,000 for a possible race.

Fills in for Jackson

Herschensohn delivers commentaries on world events and public policy twice a day during the week on KABC-TV in Los Angeles. He also gives commentaries on KABC radio each weekday morning and occasionally fills in for morning talk show host Michael Jackson.

“We fully recognize that Mr. Herschensohn is not yet an ‘official’ candidate for public office. He is, however, in every practical sense of the word, as close as one can get to that legal boundary line,” Walter Zelman, executive director of California Common Cause, wrote in a letter to Tom Van Amburg, general manager of KABC-TV, and George Green, general manager of KABC radio.

“The considerable exposure he (Herschensohn) receives by virtue of his unique position gives him an extraordinary advantage over his opponents,” Zelman continued, adding that “television and radio stations . . . must take some special care to avoid appearances of favoritism in the electoral process.

‘Different Standard’

“Most of your audience accepts Mr. Herschensohn’s views as coming from an independent observer rather than from a potential candidate. . . . Your audience, in short, is judging Mr. Herschensohn’s views by one standard when, in fact, they should be judging those views by a quite different standard.

“For these reasons we strongly encourage you to arrange for Mr. Herschensohn to take a leave of absence as a commentator on your station, at least until he is willing to state unequivocally that he will not be a candidate in next year’s elections.”

No Intention

Herschensohn said in an interview Thursday that he has received a copy of the Common Cause letter and that he does not intend to give up his television and radio commentaries at this time.

“My plan is to remain on the air until I know precisely what I am going to do,” Herschensohn said.

Asked when he might make a decision, Herschensohn replied, “It will depend on how the exploratory committee goes, the funds, the surveys, the voluntary support.”

A spokeswoman for Green at KABC radio said, “George says he has no comment. He feels it is not even an issue since Bruce has not announced his candidacy.”

Van Amburg of KABC-TV did not respond to calls requesting comment.

Candidates for the Senate must formally file for the race no later than March 7, 1986.

“Once he (Herschensohn) becomes legally qualified for a place on the ballot, any appearance on the air would permit an opponent to ask for equal opportunity from the station,” said Milton Gross, an official with the Federal Communications Commission. “As long as he hasn’t qualified for a place on the ballot, the equal time law does not apply.”