Robinson Says He’ll Run for Dornan’s Seat

Five-term Assemblyman Richard Robinson of Garden Grove ended the months-long guessing game about his political plans Sunday, declaring that he intends to run for the congressional seat held by Rep. Robert K. Dornan (R-Garden Grove).

The Orange County Democrat, who barely won reelection to the Assembly last year, said in an interview that he made the decision to run for Congress after holding discussions last week with community leaders, potential contributors and “old-time Democrats in the county.”

Robinson, 42, said he will not formally announce his candidacy until late January, but he added: “All things being equal, I have decided to run for Congress.”

He said the $1.1-billion Santa Ana River flood-control project is imperiled because of inadequate representation in Washington since Dornan defeated former Rep. Jerry Patterson last year in the 38th Congressional District.

The “last straw,” said Robinson, was Dornan’s vote last week against legislation that would have required a balanced federal budget by 1991.

“This county is suffering,” Robinson said. “I feel I am the only one who has a chance to defeat Dornan.”

Orange County Republican leaders welcomed the challenge from Robinson, suggesting that the veteran lawmaker chose to run for the higher office to avoid an embarrassing reelection defeat by Anaheim real estate broker Richard Longshore, who lost to Robinson by 256 votes last year.

“Sometimes when politicians see imminent defeat, it is more for the sake of image . . . to attempt a higher office,” Orange County Republican Chairman Tom Fuentes said.

A Proven Campaigner

Dornan, 52, shared that assessment. But he predicted that Robinson would easily win the Democratic primary if challenged. Dornan added that he expects Robinson, who like himself is a proven campaigner and fund-raiser, to be a tough opponent.

“That makes it interesting,” Dornan said. “It should be a nice battle between a Marine (Robinson) and an Air Force pilot.”

National Democrats are planning an all-out effort to win back the seat that Dornan won last year in a heated battle with Patterson, a Santa Ana Democrat now eyeing a seat on the Orange County Board of Supervisors.

They feel that Dornan, an outspoken conservative who called Rep. Thomas Downey a “draft-dodging wimp” and scuffled with him on the House floor, was elected largely on President Reagan’s popularity.

Lead in Registration

As of a month ago, Democrats had nearly a 20,000-person lead among registered voters in the 38th district. About 49.7% of the district’s voters were registered as Democrats; 39.5% were listed as Republicans.

Some Orange County Democrats had been drumming up support for Superior Court Judge David O. Carter as a candidate.

Robinson said a major Democratic primary battle would most likely work against him, and that he hopes there will not be one. But he added:

“I’ve talked to an awful lot of people who do not feel that Carter could win.”

Dornan agreed that Robinson, who has spent 11 years in the Assembly representing an area partly included in the congressional district, would offer a much stronger challenge.

Less Name Recognition

“There’s no comparison. . . . Carter has zero name ID and would have to carpetbag (move) into the district,” said Dornan, who moved to Orange County to run against Patterson.

Carter could not be reached for comment. But Bruce W. Sumner, chairman of the Democratic Central Committee of Orange County, expressed surprise at Robinson’s decision.

“Up to this moment, I’ve never heard a word from Robinson as to his interest in the congressional race,” he said.

“I don’t know that I could say I’m pleased at the prospect of having a contested primary, but I’m pleased in the sense that we have very strong candidates, either one of whom I think could be successful in a campaign against Dornan,” Sumner said. “So I guess you could say I kind of have mixed feelings.”

Robinson chairs the powerful Assembly Committee on Public Investments, which hears all bills dealing with the state’s $7.7-billion bond debt and the state’s $35-billion investment portfolio. He was Democratic Caucus Chairman, acting as important political lieutenant to Assembly Speaker Willie Brown, but was ousted last year.

‘Most Obvious’ Choice

Dornan said Robinson is making “the most obvious of three choices” in deciding to run against him.

Were Robinson to run again against Longshore, he’d “lose for sure,” Dornan said.

“Choice number two was to quit, just retire from politics. And no Marine quits,” Dornan added. “So the third choice was to wage a valiant struggle against Bob Dornan and go down in flames, but glory.”

But Sumner disagreed, arguing that Robinson would have faced an easier reelection next year than in 1984, when Longshore presented Reagan as a fellow candidate helping to kick off his 1984 campaign. And even with Robinson vacating the seat--the only legislative seat wholly in Orange County now held by a Democrat--Sumner predicted that the party would be able to hold it.

“By its (party) registration, (the seat) is one we can capture and hold, and hope to do so,” Sumner said.

Close Race Expected

Robinson said he expects a “hard-fought, close election,” but that he intends to win.

“I don’t have delusions that it is going to be a slam dunk,” he said.

Because of his close call last year, many political observers considered Robinson vulnerable.

For months, he had been saying that he would run for some elective office next year. But until this weekend, he had given no public indication whether he would run for the state Senate, Congress or for reelection.

Political observers believe that Indochinese votes could be vital in close Orange County races. Part II, Page 1.