Registrar Predicts Low Voter Turnout Tuesday for Primary Elections

Less than half of Orange County’s 1,030,213 registered voters are expected to go to the polls Tuesday despite hotly contested congressional primaries, spirited contests for several county offices and two major city elections.

Registrar of Voters Al Olson attributed his prediction of a near record-low turnout of only 48% to apathy, the large number of unopposed candidates and a lack of excitement about statewide ballot measures and the gubernatorial primaries.

The lowest Orange County turnout for a post-World War II election was 46% in 1982.

Amid these predictions, voters in the 38th and 40th congressional districts are witnessing two of the county’s hardest-fought primaries in the last 10 years.

In the 40th district, former Young Republicans Chairman Nathan Rosenberg has mounted a well-financed Republican primary challenge to five-term Rep. Robert E. Badham (R-Newport Beach).

It is unusual for an incumbent to be challenged seriously by someone in his own party, but Badham is under intense criticism for globe-trotting at taxpayers’ expense, alleged inattention to his district and use of campaign funds for his wife’s wardrobe.

In turn, Badham has charged that Rosenberg can’t be trusted because of ties to his brother, Werner Erhard, founder of est, which conducts motivational, self-improvement seminars. Badham alleges that est once used brainwashing techniques.

The incumbent has also stressed his congressional seniority and status as a ranking GOP member of the House Armed Services Committee.

Typically, winning the Republican primary is tantamount to election in November because of heavy GOP registration in the district, which extends from the central coast inland to the mountains behind El Toro.

Nevertheless, the Democrats are having an unusual primary contest of their own in the same district. County Democratic Chairman Bruce Sumner is waging a difficult write-in campaign against Art Hoffmann, a follower of controversial socialist-turned-conservative Lyndon H. LaRouche.

After two LaRouche candidates won primaries in Illinois, party regulars in Orange County became alarmed when they realized the party had not entered a candidate against Hoffmann.

Meanwhile, the Peace and Freedom Party has fielded accountant Steve Sears as a candidate.

In the neighboring 38th Congressional District, a judge and a six-term assemblyman are battling in the Democratic primary for the chance to face Rep. Robert K. Dornan (R-Garden Grove) in the November election. The central county district is marginally Democratic in registration but has voted conservatively in recent elections.

Superior Court Judge David O. Carter, unable to raise as much money as his opponent, has walked precincts, stressed his law-and-order background and argued that only he can beat Dornan.

Assemblyman Richard Robinson (D-Garden Grove), who is giving up his seat to run for Congress, has ignored Carter and instead emphasized his service in Sacramento, where he has often been the point man on legislation sought by local officials and businesses.

Party officials tried to avoid the kind of bloodletting in the primary that might cripple their nominee’s chances in November. But all hopes of that were dashed last week when Carter unleashed a barrage of last-minute campaign mail that erroneously implied Robinson had been charged with a crime.

Plans $1-Million War Chest

Dornan, one of several incumbent Republicans targeted for defeat by the Democratic Party nationally, is unopposed in the GOP primary but plans to raise a campaign war chest in excess of $1 million for the fall election.

In the contest, the Libertarian Party has fielded photo journalist Lee Connelly.

Overlapping much of the same territory, the 4th Supervisorial District is a battleground for four candidates seeking the seat on the five-member board that is being vacated by the retiring Ralph Clark.

Former Rep. Jerry M. Patterson, defeated by Dornan in 1984, is running against Anaheim Mayor Don Roth, Orange Mayor Jim Beam, and architect Manuel P. Mendez in a contest dominated by controversial campaign mail and complaints that some of the mail has been inaccurate.

False Statements

The county’s Fair Campaign Practices Commission has ruled that some Roth and Beam mailers contained false and misleading statements.

All but Roth, a former Marine, support joint civilian-military use of the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station, which lies in an adjacent district. All four candidates oppose the Anaheim site selected recently by the Board of Supervisors for a new county jail.

Meanwhile, the man in charge of the county’s crowded jail facilities, Sheriff-Coroner Brad Gates, finds himself in a bitter reelection fight with Municipal Court Judge Bobby D. Youngblood and sheriff’s patrol Sgt. Linda Lea Calligan.

Neither Youngblood or Calligan has raised much money, but Calligan has forced Gates, first elected in 1974, to spend a significant amount of his campaign funds on legal fees.

Successful Court Challenge

In a long-running legal battle, Gates persuaded judges to bar the county from printing allegations about him--charges he termed false and misleading--in Calligan’s ballot pamphlet statement. Calligan challenged that ruling in several appeals.

Elsewhere, the usually quiet county assessor’s race has been anything but low-key. Incumbent Bradley L. Jacobs is being challenged by one of his own employees, David J. Holbert.

What’s more, Holbert spent $210,000 of his own funds on the campaign as of last week, catching Jacobs by surprise.

Jacobs has raised less than $14,000, and he accused Holbert of trying to “buy” the election. In turn, Holbert accused Jacobs of failing to roll back tax assessments for properties that have declined in value, a charge the incumbent strongly denied.

Vital Elections in Cities

Meanwhile, the results of two city elections Tuesday could dramatically affect growth and development in Orange County.

Irvine voters will pick two council members, and the outcome could determine whether a pro-growth or slow-growth faction controls the council.

Irvine voters will also decide whether to limit officials to two consecutive terms and whether to elect mayors at the polls instead of by council decision.

Santa Ana voters, in considering Measure C, will decide whether city council candidates should run in wards instead of citywide and whether voters, instead of council members, should directly elect the mayor.

Code Enforcement an Issue

Opponents have said the measure would undermine strict code enforcement in the city, while proponents contend that the current system allows officials to ignore wishes of local neighborhoods.

The county’s hottest state legislative battle involves the Assembly seat being vacated by Robinson, the veteran legislator running for Congress.

The blue-collar 72nd Assembly District in central Orange County has only a slight Democratic registration edge and has experienced numerous defections to the GOP.

So Republican Richard E. Longshore hopes he will take the seat in his third attempt after losing twice to Robinson, including a 256-vote loss in 1984.

Longshore first must win the Republican primary against George V. Heaney, a claims adjuster for the state workers compensation fund who collected 43% of the vote against Longshore in a 1982 match-up.

Help From GOP Caucus

Longshore has received financial help from the Assembly Republican caucus in Sacramento, marking one of the few times the caucus has chosen sides in a contested primary.

Santa Ana Mayor Dan Griset is unopposed in the Democratic primary, and so the expected Longshore-Griset battle has already begun.

Griset has the backing of the Assembly Democratic caucus in Sacramento, which has pumped about $35,000 in cash and campaign services into his campaign. Griset, who is making his first run for partisan office, has outraised Longshore $95,671 to $37,339 so far.

Both parties have targeted the race for extra money and staffing, which means the price tag could reach $1 million or more.

LaRouche Candidates

Also drawing interest are some races featuring candidates aligned with LaRouche. Democratic leaders charge that LaRouche and his supporters have “infiltrated” the party for their own purposes.

In addition to Hoffmann, the candidates on the June ballot who confirmed to The Times that they are LaRouche followers are: Peter Dimopoulos, 64th Assembly District; Marion E. Hundley, 67th Assembly District; Elizabeth J. Meredith and Peter Wase, 72nd Assembly District.

Hoffmann and Dimopoulos also filed for the central committee, as did Kathleen Arguello and George A. Hanna to represent the 58th Assembly District.

Several others, including Maureen G. Pike, in the 39th Congressional District, and central committee candidates Dina C. Bakshoian, 58th Assembly District; Joyce M. Char, 69th Assembly District, and Roberta J. Hundley, 67th Assembly District, listed as their telephone number the LaRouche organization’s phone number in Los Angeles when they filed for office.

Other Races Uneventful

Meanwhile, other county races have been uneventful.

In north Orange County’s 39th Congressional District, county contracts administrator David D. Vest and Pike are competing quietly for the Democratic nomination and the chance to face Rep. William E. Dannemeyer (R-Fullerton), who is unopposed for renomination by his party. Also running is Peace and Freedom Party candidate Frank Boeheim.

In the 42nd Congressional District, which straddles the Los Angeles-Orange County border along the coast, lawyer Thomas M. McGreal, customer service agent Kevin S. Olsen and attorney Michael P. Blackburn are seeking the Democratic nomination. Rep. Daniel E. Lungren (R-Long Beach) is unopposed for renomination by his party, as is Peace and Freedom Party candidate Kate McClatchy.

In the 43rd Congressional District, which straddles the San Diego-Orange County border both inland and along the south coast, Democrat Joseph Chirra, Rep. Ron Packard (R-Carlsbad) and Libertarian Party candidate Phyllis Avery are unopposed in their respective primaries.

No Opponent in Primary

State Sen. Edward R. Royce (R-Anaheim) has no primary opposition in central Orange County’s 32nd state Senate District, but on the Democratic side Orange County Board of Education member Francis Hoffman faces Stanton Mayor Pro Tem Sal Sapien.

Assemblyman Dennis Brown (R-Signal Hill) and Peace and Freedom Party candidate Paul Haak have no primary opposition in the 58th Assembly District, which straddles the Los Angeles-Orange County border along the coast.

However, real estate broker Andrew Kincaid, college instructor Peggy Staggs and Los Angeles port administrator Michael O. Ferrall are battling for the Democratic nomination.

In north Orange County’s 64th Assembly District, Dimopoulos, the LaRouche follower, is vying with aerospace worker Jo Marie Lisa for the Democratic nomination, while Assemblyman Ross Johnson (R-La Habra) is unopposed for renomination by the GOP.

More Free Rides

In east Orange County’s 67th Assembly District, retired electrical engineer Marion E. Hundley is competing with businessman Ray Anderson in the Democratic primary, while Assemblyman John Lewis (R-Orange) has no GOP primary opponents.

In central-coastal Orange County’s 69th Assembly District, Democrat Jack H. Baldwin and Assemblyman Nolan Frizzelle (R-Huntington Beach) are unopposed in the respective primaries.

Likewise, Democrat Geoffrey S. Gray and Assemblyman Gil Ferguson (R-Newport Beach) have free rides in the primary in south Orange County’s 70th Assembly District.

In west Orange County’s 71st Assembly District, Democrat Mark S. Rosen, Assemblywoman Doris Allen (R-Cypress) and Peace and Freedom candidate C.T. Weber also lack primary opponents.

Races for County offices

And in the 74th Assembly District, which except for San Clemente takes in north San Diego County, Libertarian Party candidate Don Ellis and Assemblyman Robert C. Frazee (R-Carlsbad) lack primary opposition. No Democrat filed.

In other races, County Clerk Gary Granville faces Marshall Norris, one of his employees. Prosecutor A.C. Novick also wants to replace his boss, Dist. Atty. Cecil Hicks. Public Administrator William A. Baker faces attorney Victor E. Hobbs, while Easter Seals director Greg Winterbottom and a deputy assessor, Larry L. Bales, are giving incumbent Recorder Lee Branch tough competition.

Nobody filed against Auditor Steven E. Lewis or Treasurer-Tax Collector Robert L. Citron.

Supervisor Thomas F. Riley faces former Laguna Beach Mayor Jon Brand and businessman Kenneth Palmer Pratt in south Orange County’s 5th District, where Riley has been criticized for allegedly favoring developers, a charge he strongly denies.

Token Opposition

Meanwhile, Supervisor Harriett M. Wieder has only token opposition from medical technician David J. Meslovich in the 2nd District.

County schools Supt. Robert Peterson is unopposed, but attorney J. Michael Hughes, businessman David L. Brandt and college instructor Judy Ackley are competing for a trustee’s seat on the county Board of Education.

Teacher Nancy J. Zeleznikar and pharmacist-attorney Ralph G. Marcarelli are vying with incumbent Frances B. Murphy for a second board seat.

In judicial contests, private attorney Robert H. Gallivan and prosecutors Joseph L. Barilla and William W. Bedsworth are competing for Superior Court Office No. 5, while prosecutor Anthony Rackauckas and Municipal Judge David H. Brickner are vying for Superior Court Office No. 15.

Judicial Campaigns

Attorney James E. Wilkoski is challenging Superior Court Judge William McDonald for Office No. 17.

Prosecutors Paul S. Robbins and James M. Brooks are competing with private attorney Diane D. Nordby for Central Orange County Municipal Court Office No. 9, based in Santa Ana.

Meanwhile, Prosecutor Robert E. Thomas is challenging Municipal Judge Brian R. Carter for Harbor Court Office No. 1, in Newport Beach.

In contests for North Orange County seats, based in Fullerton, Municipal Judge Betty L. Elias is opposed for Office No. 2 by private attorneys William H. Randall and James A. Bates.

Also, North Court Commissioner Richard E. Behn is competing with prosecutor Roger B. Robbins and private attorney Robert A. Von Esch Jr. for Office No. 3.

VOTING INFORMATION Orange County voters will go to the polls Tuesday to select party nominees in partisan races, decide ballot measures and choose candidates seeking local, nonpartisan offices. Polling booths in 2,077 precincts will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Information about polling place locations and other election matters is available by calling the registrar’s office at (714) 834-2244. About 48% of the county’s 1,030,213 registered voters are expected to go to the polls, according to Registrar of Voters Al Olson.