Robinson Starts Campaign Assailing Dornan’s Record

Kicking off a campaign for Congress, Assemblyman Richard Robinson (D-Garden Grove) on Tuesday accused incumbent Rep. Robert K. Dornan (R-Garden Grove) of spending taxpayers’ money in Africa and Central America “on every bloodthirsty rebel who conveniently mouths support for America” instead of working for his district.

Orange County residents “do not want or need a self-appointed undersecretary of state for the Third World. They need a congressman who fights for Orange County’s fair share of federal tax money,” Robinson said as he attacked what he termed Dornan’s advocacy of millions of dollars in U.S. aid to Jonas Savimbi, an Angolan rebel leader.

Dornan left for Hanoi on Tuesday morning for discussions with Vietnamese officials about the fate of Americans missing in action during the Vietnam War and could not be reached for comment. Dornan and his aides previously have stressed a record of service to his 38th Congressional District, including securing federal housing and flood-control projects.

Robinson, a six-term assemblyman, has been talking about running for Congress since December and said last week that he would not seek reelection to the Assembly.

In his official announcement Tuesday, he spent almost his entire 45-minute press conference attacking Dornan.

Before he faces Dornan, Robinson first must defeat Superior Court Judge David O. Carter in the primary. Carter is a Marine Corps veteran and former prosecutor who has taken a leave of absence from the court to run for Congress.

But Robinson suggested that there might not be a contested Democratic primary. “The opponent clearly is Bob Dornan if there is a primary. . . ,” Robinson said, adding, “I like Dave Carter. The opponent is Bob Dornan.”

Carter, however, is still in the race. In lieu of paying the $792 filing fee Robinson paid, Carter has been gathering signatures on a nominating petition.

Concern About Primary

As of Tuesday afternoon, county registrar’s officials had not received Carter’s nominating petition, but the deadline is not until March 7.

Democrats have worried about an expensive and bloody primary, fearing that that could make it difficult to defeat Dornan, a conservative Republican who has been targeted for defeat in 1986 by national Democratic committees. Some Orange County Democratic leaders have been hoping that Robinson and Carter will concentrate their attacks on Dornan rather than each other.

Robinson, 42, Orange County’s only Democratic legislator, has drafted major legislation on the budget, prisons and health care in his years in the Assembly. In announcing his candidacy, Robinson passed out a two-page list of endorsements that included Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley, 17 members of Congress, 25 members of the California Senate, 42 members of the California Assembly and a handful of Orange County leaders.

Santa Ana Mayor Daniel E. Griset, who is a Democratic contender for Robinson’s Assembly seat, endorsed Robinson for Congress. But Robinson said he was not yet ready to endorse Griset for the Assembly, although he is a friend of Griset.