GOP Sees Little Chance of Wresting Seat in State Senate From Deddeh

For practical purposes, Republican leaders have all but abandoned their hopes of denying a second four-year term to state Sen. Wadie P. Deddeh of Chula Vista.

Since he earned the right to oppose Deddeh by winning a spirited primary battle in June, San Diego Police Lt. William M. Hoover has received precious little support, and almost no money, from state and local GOP officials.

As though the Tuesday’s election doesn’t even matter, party strategists talk about their chances of winning a race in the 40th Senate District in 1987, when they hope President Reagan will have taken the popular Deddeh out of the local political scene by appointing him to an ambassadorship in the Middle East.

But even when they speculate about the 66-year-old Democratic senator joining the diplomatic corps--and a special election next year to fill his Senate seat--Republican strategists make scant mention of Hoover.

Instead, they pin their hopes of capturing the seat on better-known San Diego County political figures who, they say, could more easily overcome the district’s overwhelmingly Democratic registration.

County Supervisor Brian Bilbray and Chula Vista Mayor Greg Cox, both of whom were recruited for a race against Deddeh this year but rejected party leaders’ overtures, are the most frequently mentioned names. Democratic strategists say Assemblyman Larry Stirling (R-San Diego) would be their toughest foe in a special election. But Stirling, who lives in Tierrasanta, said he would never move into Deddeh’s district just to run for office.

“I have a home; not just a house, but a home,” Stirling said. “I live in a community with roots and kids in school and everything.”

Deddeh’s close friend and political ally, Assemblyman Steve Peace (D-Chula Vista), is the most frequently mentioned Democratic candidate. But Deddeh, who views his chances of being appointed to an ambassadorship anywhere as “slim and none,” said he is concentrating on his race against Hoover on Tuesday--even if Republican leaders aren’t.

“I don’t take anything for granted,” said Deddeh, who has walked precincts, bought television and radio advertisements and plans at least one districtwide mailer.

Still, it is clear that Deddeh, who polled 74.2% of the vote four years ago against Border Patrol union spokeswoman Muriel Watson, is extremely confident.

Deddeh concedes that the $75,000 he plans to spend on this year’s campaign “is just peanuts compared to what you spend in most campaigns.” Campaign finance reports filed with election authorities last week show that Deddeh’s campaign had nearly $203,000 in the bank, even after diverting over $58,000--with contributions going to the campaign war chest controlled by Senate Democratic leaders, Lt. Gov. Leo McCarthy, Board of Equalization candidate Paul B. Carpenter, Democratic Senate candidates in Kern and San Francisco counties, a San Diego voter registration drive and Southwestern College board candidate Angie Bareno of Chula Vista.

Hoover’s campaign finance report showed he had raised only $7,196 in cash and in-kind contributions, and had a $14 deficit as of Oct. 18.

Deddeh, who won election to the Assembly eight times before running for the Senate four years ago, has other reasons besides money to feel confident. Final registration figures for next week’s election give Democrats a lead of more than 60,000 in the 40th Senate District. Of the qualified voters in the district--which stretches from the Mexican border to North Park and Normal Heights, and from the center of San Diego Bay to Lemon Grove, Spring Valley and the Lower Otay Reservoir--54.4% are Democrats and 33.8% are Republicans.

Although they desperately want to change the 26-to-14 Democrat-Republican split in the state Senate, GOP strategists say it was the lopsided numbers, coupled with Deddeh’s personal popularity, that dissuaded them from getting involved in a big way in the San Diego County Senate race.

“It takes an awful lot to defeat an incumbent,” said Marty Wilson, director of the Senate Republican Caucus and a key strategist for Senate races around the state. “We generally need a candidate with a little broader base than Bill Hoover enjoys.”

State Sen. William A. Craven (R-Oceanside), the only other San Diego County senator up for re-election this year, did not even draw major party opposition. Craven, seeking a third term in the Senate, faces only Libertarian Betty A. Mill, a San Diego businesswoman. Assemblyman Robert C. Frazee (R-Carlsbad), seeking a fifth term in the Assembly, also drew no Democratic opposition. But Libertarian Don Ellis, an Oceanside investor, will be on the ballot against Frazee.

Besides Hoover, 42, Deddeh will also have tax consultant William R. Beard, a Peace and Freedom Party candidate, on the ballot against him.

Deddeh, who was recently appointed chairman of the powerful Senate Transportation Committee, said he will spend a lot of time concentrating on the state’s transportation problems next year if he is re-elected. Both the freeway systems, and local streets and roads, need immediate attention, said Deddeh.

“We need approximately $5 billion to $6 billion in brand new money to at least get us even with the population growth,” Deddeh added.

Deddeh said he has given the matter “many thoughts,” but has no preconceived notions about potential new sources of revenue for transportation. He said it would be foolish, however, for legislative leaders to continue their verbal battles with the governor over means of funding the state’s transportation needs.

“Before we say anything about it, we need to talk to the governor,” said Deddeh. “Not only will Wadie Deddeh talk to the governor, but I hope that an awful lot of people interested in the safety of our highways will take time to talk with the governor.”

Meanwhile, Deddeh, a Roman Catholic who was born in Iraq, said he assumes he would have heard from the White House by now if Reagan intended to make him an ambassador. Deddeh, a naturalized U.S. citizen since 1953, went to the White House for interviews last summer. But it has been Republican leaders, like state GOP Chairman Clair Burgener and Senate Republican Caucus Chairman John Seymour (R-Anaheim), who have been pushing hardest to get the appointment for Deddeh.

Although they say publicly that Deddeh would “be a fine representative of the President,” the Republican leaders make little pretense about their ulterior motive in pushing Deddeh for the appointment. Republicans generally vote in much greater numbers than do Democrats in special elections. Besides that, local elected officials who would not risk a race against Deddeh in a regular election year might be tempted to try for an open Senate seat in an off-year, when they have nothing to risk.