Political Notes : Sumner Sends Mailer to 40,000 Republicans

Democratic congressional candidate Bruce Sumner sent a mailer to more than 40,000 Republicans on Tuesday describing himself as a former Republican legislator who was praised for his work as chairman of the Constitution Revision Commission by then-Gov. Ronald Reagan.

Nowhere in the four-page mailer, which castigates his opponent, Rep. Robert E. Badham (R-Newport Beach) for “unethical” spending of campaign contributions, does Sumner mention that he switched parties in 1971 and has been a Democrat ever since. Nor does it mention that, from July, 1984, to July, 1986, Sumner was chairman of the Democratic Party of Orange County.

As for Reagan, the President is backing Badham.

Sumner did serve as a Republican assemblyman from 1956 to 1962. But in 1971 he switched parties.

Badham aide Bill Schreiber said the mailer is “deliberately misleading the voters. . . . My God, the guy was chairman of the Democratic Party. Does he have absolutely no loyalty at all? It’s almost as though he’s ashamed to be a Democrat.”

Sumner replied: “It’s well known that I am a Democrat. It’s on the ballot that I am a Democrat. I don’t feel that (party affiliation) would be the type of thing that would be important to Republicans. As far as voting, the question is: What have I done? Who I am.”

Allan Chou, Sumner’s field director, said the mailing left out Sumner’s party affiliation because “it’s a mailer going to Republicans, that’s all. All he has to say is, ‘I’m a Democrat’ and he’s not going to win the campaign.”

John Hanna, current chairman of the Democratic Party of Orange County, also defended the mailing. “I’m very used to seeing, prior to (President) Ronald Reagan, Republicans failing to mention that they are Republicans on their literature. . . . It’s not unusual. And it’s probably pretty smart since it’s the majority party.” Badham’s 40th Congressional District is predominantly Republican and, to win, Sumner must persuade large numbers of Republicans to vote for him.

Tuesday’s mailer spends three pages attacking Badham for spending campaign funds on his wife’s travel, silverware and a car. The last page focuses on Sumner. Under the heading “Judge Bruce Sumner, Honor . . . Integrity . . . Courage,” the mailer said:

“A Republican legislator--Judge Sumner served Orange County in the state Assembly. His tireless work as Chairman of the prestigious Constitution Revision Commission won him praise and respect from his former colleagues and then Governor Reagan.”