Contenders in State Senate 33rd District Race Begin Raising Money for Runoff

Democrat Cecil N. Green and Republican Wayne Grisham, bthe top two finishers in Tuesday’s special state Senate election, launched new fund-raising appeals Wednesday for a May runoff that is expected to be one of the state’s most costly Senate campaigns.

In a surprise, Norwalk City Councilman Green, 63, on Tuesday outpolled seven other candidates, but final unofficial results showed that he fell 2% short of winning the majority required in the special election to avoid a runoff.

As a result, Green will square off against Norwalk Assemblyman Grisham, who placed second, and two minor-party candidates in the 33rd District rematch on May 12. The district is a suburban area in southeastern Los Angeles and northwestern Orange counties. Democratic in registration--54% of the registered voters are Democrats, and 38% are Republicans--it has been increasingly receptive to conservative candidates in recent years.

But at a Capitol news conference, a smiling state Senate President Pro Tem David A. Roberti said Green’s strong showing demonstrates that “Democrats are returning to the Democratic Party.” He attributed this, in part, to President Reagan’s handling of the Iranian arms scandal.

“The President has been most helpful in shooting a hole in the Republican canoe. . . . It’s sinking and I don’t know what they can do to glue it back together again,” Roberti declared.

But Republicans dismissed these suggestions, predicting that Grisham--who was heavily supported by Gov. George Deukmejian--will rebound and win the May election.

Senate Minority Leader James W. Nielsen (R-Rohnert Park) expressed “disappointment” at the outcome but said he had begun soliciting funds for Grisham within hours of Tuesday’s election. Nielsen would not criticize the campaign strategy, which relied on Grisham’s past popularity, support from Deukmejian and mailers. Grisham’s campaign raised about $500,000.

Green’s $800,000 campaign also relied heavily on campaign mailers, but it also recruited hundreds of volunteers to walk precincts. Roberti said he began to solicit more funds for Green on Wednesday.

Both sides expect to double their fund-raising totals by the May election. If they match those goals and raise a total of $2.6 million, the campaign would be one of the state’s most costly Senate races, according to the state Fair Political Practices Commission.

Dale Hardeman, Grisham’s campaign manager, said Republicans had failed to recognize Green’s strength. Hardeman said the Grisham campaign was handed “somewhat of a chilling shower” by Green.

For the runoff, Hardeman predicted that Grisham would increase the amount of time he spends ringing doorbells and talking to prospective voters. “I think you’ll find he won’t be playing much golf in the next eight weeks,” Hardeman said.

Hardeman also expects the governor to resume campaigning for Grisham. Deukmejian made two campaign appearances on Grisham’s behalf and helped persuade Grisham’s chief Republican rival to withdraw from the campaign.

Donna Lipper, a spokeswoman for Deukmejian, said, “I’m sure the governor is going to be involved in the general election and do everything he can to help Wayne get elected to the Senate.”