Thoreson, Katz Wage Costly Fight by Mail

A member of Assembly GOP Leader Pat Nolan’s inner circle has a suggestion for voters in the 39th Assembly District, the Northeast San Fernando Valley area that is the scene of the most costly general election Assembly contest in Los Angeles County this year.

“It may be advisable for all political junkies to buy larger mailboxes so they don’t miss anything,” Assemblyman Tom McClintock (R-Thousand Oaks) said.

That is an exaggeration. But much of the $750,000 being spent by Assemblyman Richard Katz (D-Sepulveda) and GOP challenger Robert F. Thoreson, a Los Angeles Police Department auto theft detective, is going into the battle of the printed word.

In a last-ditch appeal to voters before Tuesday’s election, mailers have been sent by the candidates to mobile home owners, senior citizens, veterans, opponents of abortion, black constituents and other voter groups. And more are to come.

Scrappier Route

In outspending his opponent by more than 2-to-1, Katz, a graphic artist and former printer, has sent out shiny, multicolor brochures that tout his achievements as a legislator. Thoreson has chosen a scrappier route, opting for newsletter-type mailers that have sharply criticized the incumbent’s voting record on utility taxes, toxics and other issues.

The race, a rematch for the pair, is considered by leaders of both political parties to be one of the key Assembly contests in the state. Registration in this classic melting-pot district, which stretches from the upper middle-class homes in Northridge to the ethnic neighborhoods in Pacoima and San Fernando, favors Democrats by 56.8% to 34.9%, but Republicans say that makes it competitive because GOP voters are more loyal and more likely to vote on Election Day.

GOP leaders, looking to whittle away the Democrats’ 47-33 Assembly majority, took Thoreson’s respectable performance in 1984--he won 46% of the vote to Katz’s 54%--as a sign that Katz could be vulnerable.

With the election just days away, both parties have poured money into the campaign. Nolan’s political action committee and the state GOP so far have contributed $75,000 to Thoreson.

Katz also is benefiting from some outside help: In the last 10 days, his campaign has received a $25,000 infusion from Assembly Speaker Willie Brown (D-San Francisco). Earlier, state Treasurer Jesse Unruh and a handful of Democratic assemblymen gave a total of $40,000.

Katz, who has maintained a high profile in his district, said he is confident that he will win again. In 1984, he was caught off guard as Thoreson, after running an aggressive voter registration drive, seemed to come from nowhere in the final days of the race.

“I feel much better. We’re more prepared,” Katz said.

Speaker Brown said he shares Katz’s confidence.

“Richard is a super candidate. He’ll bury that guy,” said Brown earlier in the fall during an appearance at a Katz country-western barbecue fund-raiser.

Thoreson, a 42-year-old father of eight, predicts “an exciting, close election” with the victor winning by a point or two.

Targeted Races

“I’m sure it will come down to the wire,” agreed Nolan of Glendale, whose hold on the minority leadership post could depend on how many Republicans in targeted races win next week.

Voters have had almost no chance to compare the two candidates. No money is being spent on TV advertising and very little on radio. No debates have been held, and the two men only appeared together at a candidates’ forum once. Both have been walking precincts every afternoon, but they are relying primarily on the mail to deliver their messages.

Until the campaign literature started hitting the mailboxes, the only public squabble between the two was over who has the allegiance of the black clergy in Pacoima. For several months, Thoreson has been courting black ministers and campaigning at their churches on Sundays, sometimes speaking to the congregations from the pulpit.

Attempts to Erode Support

In his appeals, Thoreson is attempting to erode Katz’s support in Pacoima, where the incumbent clobbered the conservative policeman two years ago by a 10-1 ratio. GOP strategists have speculated that Thoreson could win the election if he captures 20% of the Pacoima vote.

Thoreson said he has gained the support of the pastors of 22 of the about 30 black churches in the community. But Katz received the endorsement of the Minister Fellowship of San Fernando and Vicinity, an organization composed of Pacoima ministers.

Katz has preferred largely to ignore his opponent. But Thoreson, who has portrayed himself as the taxpayers’ friend, has attacked Katz in most of his campaign literature.

He has contended that Katz allowed a relaxation of Proposition 13 by voting against a 1982 amendment to allow voters to decide if utility taxes should be increased and that he has not been tough enough on criminals and toxic polluters.

‘Ranting and Raving’

Katz has called Thoreson’s campaign literature “unfocused ranting and raving.”

As for Katz, in one of his mailers, he is peering into a car that has had its windshield splintered by a spray of gravel or rocks falling off a truck on the freeway. In the mailer, Katz tells voters he unsuccessfully fought special-interest groups for passage of his “stop-the-rocks” bill, which would have required truckers to cover their sand, gravel and rock loads with tarpaulins. Other mailers mention Katz’s support for successful legislation on toxic-waste cleanup and crime.