Buchoz Files for 71st Assembly Seat Due to Be Vacated by Allen

Former Westminster Mayor Kathy Buchoz, pressured by Republican leaders last October into withdrawing from the 72nd Assembly race, found a new elective office to run for Monday--the 71st Assembly District seat.

Claiming that this time she had “solid Republican support,” Buchoz on Monday gave the Orange County registrar of voters her formal “declaration of intent” to run for that seat and paid the $371.50 filing fee.

That office is held by Assemblywoman Doris Allen (R-Cypress), but Allen has said she will run for the state Senate seat now held by Edward R. Royce (R-Anaheim). Royce, in turn, is planning to run for the congressional seat held by William E. Dannemeyer (R-Fullerton). Dannemeyer set off this Republican game of musical chairs last month by announcing he would not file for reelection but would continue his bid to be the Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate.

Monday was the first day for candidates to give notice that they intend to run for state or local offices. Neither Allen nor Royce filed Monday, but they have until Feb. 10 to do so.

Buchoz, 46, a former Democrat turned Republican, has been a candidate looking for a race since last October when Republican leaders pressured her into quitting an exploratory campaign for the 72nd Assembly District seat.

Members of the Lincoln Club, the Orange County Republican Party’s prestigious fund-raising group, said they wanted undivided backing for real estate agent Richard Longshore in that race, largely because Longshore in November, 1984, came only 256 votes short of defeating Assemblyman Richard Robinson (D-Garden Grove) and appeared to be the Republican most likely to win in 1986.

Considered Senate Run

Buchoz also seriously considered running for the Senate seat now held by Royce but had to back off after Allen, who initially claimed that she was not interested in leaving the Assembly, suddenly announced that she wanted to run for that seat.

On Monday, Buchoz cited support from several Lincoln Club members in her 71st Assembly bid, including backing from Robert Beaver, Bob Zinngrabe and Gus Owen.

Also named as Buchoz supporters were state Sen. Marian Bergeson (R-Newport Beach), Orange County Supervisors Roger R. Stanton and Thomas F. Riley, and Garden Grove Mayor Jonathan H. Cannon.

The only announced Democrat in that race, lawyer Mark Rosen, has not yet filed his declaration of intent to run. But Monday night, Rosen held his first major fund-raiser with Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley as his featured speaker.

Also Monday, Longshore paid the filing fee for his 72nd Assembly District candidacy, and Assemblyman John R. Lewis (R--Orange) told the registrar’s office he intended to run for reelection, although he has not yet paid the fee. In addition, 15 people announced that they intended to run for the Superior Court, and one other filed his declaration of intent to run for Municipal Court.