Grisham Called ‘Liar’ by Green in Cerritos Talk

Norwalk City Councilman Cecil N. Green called Assemblyman Wayne Grisham (R-Norwalk) a liar Thursday night, charging that his opponent in the race to fill the vacant seat in the 33rd state Senate District distorted Green’s record in recent campaign mailers.

Visibly angry during his appearance at a candidates’ forum in Cerritos, Green accused Grisham of breaking a verbal pledge to stick to issues and avoid personal attacks.

Turning to stare at Grisham, Green said, “Wayne Grisham, you are a liar, and I thought you were a better man than that.”

Grisham Stays Calm

Grisham, who remained calm and unperturbed under the barrage from Green, said after the forum that “we never print anything that we first haven’t investigated.” With a slight smile, he added, “What we said about Mr. Green is true. The record speaks for itself.”

During the candidates’ forum, sponsored by the American Assn. of University Women, Green said he was unnerved by one mailer in particular that he claimed “grossly misrepresented” his position and record as a Norwalk councilman.

Grisham’s campaign literature said Green never took a stand on the reconfirmation of Chief Justice Rose Elizabeth Bird and two other Supreme Court justices last November. Green, however, said he was the chairman of a local Norwalk group that worked to oust Bird and the other justices.

Green also said he was a staunch supporter of Proposition 13 in 1978, but Grisham’s mailer said Green never took a position on the property tax-cutting measure.

Green’s Statement

“If you continue telling untruths,” Green said, “I will be forced to come forward and tell the truth.”

Green did not elaborate.

Green, a Democrat, and Grisham are the top candidates in the race to represent the conservative, heavily blue-collar district, which straddles the border between Orange and Los Angeles counties. The 33rd district seat was vacated when Sen. Paul Carpenter (D-Cypress) resigned after being elected to the State Board of Equalization.

If no candidate receives a majority of the votes cast March 17, the top vote-getter from each party will compete in a runoff election May 12. Eight candidates are seeking the seat.