Robinson Not to Run Again for Assembly

Six-term Assemblyman Richard Robinson (D-Garden Grove) announced Wednesday that he would not seek reelection, but he declined to confirm what he had said in December--that he is running for Congress.

Robinson, 42, the only Democratic legislator from Orange County, said he wanted to pursue “new challenges” in elective office although he would not specify what those challenges were until early next week.

Robinson told reporters at a luncheon meeting in Orange that he had mixed emotions about his decision, but, he said, “I will not be filing for reelection and I will not be returning to Sacramento.”

He added: “My name will be on the ballot. For what position will be announced next week when the structure of the campaign is established.”

Purposely Missed Deadline

Some state legislators, keeping their options open, have filed declarations of intent to run for their own seat and for a higher office. But Robinson said he had not done so because “I don’t mealy-mouth around trying to obtain perceptions that aren’t correct.” Thus, he said, he was purposely missing Wednesday’s filing deadline for state and local elections.

By last week, two major candidates had announced plans to run for Robinson’s seat--Republican Richard Longshore, a retired Navy officer, and Santa Ana Mayor Daniel E. Griset, a Democrat.

Although Robinson would not discuss a congressional race Wednesday, he told reporters in December that he was 99% sure he would run for the seat held by Rep. Robert K. Dornan (R-Garden Grove). Robinson said he felt compelled to do so because local projects, such as the $1.1-billion Santa Ana River flood-control project, were not getting adequate representation from Dornan.

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

Dornan claims, however, that he has done a good job for his district, including securing $2.5 million in federal grants for Santa Ana and Garden Grove.

Dornan already has one Democratic opponent. Tuesday, Superior Court Judge David O. Carter announced that he was taking a leave of absence from his job to seek the Democratic nomination for Dornan’s seat.

Robinson declined Wednesday to discuss Carter, other than to say “I believe he has a future in politics.”

Robinson, a former Democratic caucus chairman, was once one of Assembly Speaker Willie Brown’s chief lieutenants. But he was ousted from the caucus post in 1984 after Democrats claimed he was becoming too cozy with Republican Gov. George Deukmejian.

As Orange County’s senior legislator in Sacramento, Robinson carried legislation of statewide significance, including the 1983 budget bill, a 1985 bill tightening safety standards on school buses and another 1985 bill authorizing $450 million in bond measures for prison and jail construction.

No Plans for Endorsement

Robinson said Wednesday that he “didn’t want to get involved in kingmaking” and so had no immediate plans to endorse a successor for his 72nd Assembly seat.

Robinson said his decision to leave the Assembly had nothing to with the continuing challenge by Longshore, who came within 256 votes of defeating Robinson in 1984. Longshore said he was not surprised by Robinson’s announcement.

“It will be a hard-fought race no matter who files,” Longshore said.

Longshore, who first ran against Robinson in 1982, has the support of Orange County’s Republican legislators and the party’s prestigious Lincoln Club. Also this week, another Republican, George Heaney, filed his declaration of intent to run for the 72nd Assembly seat.

Wednesday was the filing deadline for those seeking state or local office, though the lineups in several races will change as some candidates drop out. Some candidates have filed to run for two offices. If an incumbent decides after the filing deadline not to seek reelection, a filing period for that office is reopened. As of 5 p.m. Wednesday, here is how some of the races were shaping up:

- In the 58th Assembly District, incumbent Dennis Brown (R-Signal Hill) is seeking reelection. Democrat Andrew Kincaid of Long Beach filed for the seat Wednesday, joining another Democrat, Peggy Staggs of Huntington Beach, formerly a member of the Democratic Central Committee of Orange County, who filed Tuesday.

- In the 64th Assembly District, incumbent Ross Johnson (R-La Habra) is running for reelection. Filing against him Wednesday was Democrat Peter Dimopoulos, a restaurant manager from Fullerton.

- In the 67th Assembly District, incumbent John R. Lewis (R-Orange) is running again. Two Democrats filed Wednesday for that seat--Ray Anderson, an entrepreneur from Orange and Marione Hundley, an electrical engineer from Yorba Linda.

- In the 69th Assembly District, incumbent Nolan Frizzelle (R-Huntington Beach) is running for reelection. Two Democrats filed against him Wednesday--Irvine businessman Jack H. Baldwin and Daniel W. Rasmus, 24, a manufacturing specialist from Santa Ana, who said Frizzelle’s comments defending apartheid persuaded him to run.

- In the 70th Assembly District, incumbent Gil Ferguson (R-Newport Beach) is running for reelection. Democrats Geoffrey S. Gray, an attorney from Corona del Mar, and Eugene V. Hunt Jr., an engineer from El Toro, filed against him Wednesday. Also filing for the seat Wednesday was Theresa B. White of El Toro, a Peace and Freedom Party candidate.

- In the 71st Assembly District incumbent Doris Allen (R-Cypress) has filed for reelection although she has also filed--and is expected to run--for the 32nd District Senate seat. On Wednesday executive secretary Lou McNeeley joined former Westminster Mayor Kathy Buchoz as a contender for the seat. Attorney Mark Rosen has been walking precincts in the district as the Democratic candidate.

- In the 74th Assembly District, incumbent Robert C. Frazee (R-Carlsbad), whose district includes San Clemente and northern San Diego County, is running for reelection unopposed.

- In the 32nd state Senate District, three Democrats had filed by Wednesday for the seat now held by incumbent Edward R. Royce (R-Anaheim). (Royce took out papers indicating he may run for reelection, but he has said he plans to run for Congress if Rep. William E. Dannemeyer (R-Fullerton) vacates his seat.) On Wednesday, Democrats Dennis Arthur Murphy Sr., a sports executive from Anaheim, and Sal Sapian of Stanton filed for Royce’s seat. Filing Tuesday was attorney Francis Hoffman, another Democrat. On the Republican side, Assemblywoman Allen is running for Royce’s seat.

Los Angeles Times