Badham Is Known for Low Profile in Congress

The career of six-term Rep. Robert Edward Badham (R-Newport Beach), who is expected to formally announce his retirement from Congress at a press conference today, has been marked by a relatively low profile in Washington and occasional controversy in his Orange County district.

The 58-year-old congressman, a former hardware company vice president, a Stanford University graduate and U.S. Navy veteran, has had an unbroken string of electoral victories beginning with his election to the Assembly in 1962. He was first elected to Congress in 1976.

In 1986, he faced a surprisingly strong primary challenge from newcomer Nathan Rosenberg, who garnered 35% of the vote. Badham spent $300,000 on the race--more than he spent in any of his previous contests--and has been more visible in the district since then.

In a 1986 interview, Norman Ornstein, a political scientist with the American En terprise Institute in Washington, called Badham “one of the larger mass of minority members. . . . He is not a visible figure inside the House.”

Badham is, however, a ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee.

“He’s an expert in national defense and probably one of the 10 leading specialists on military systems in Congress,” said Bill Schreiber, Badham’s former chief of staff.

Rep. Ron Packard, (R-Carlsbad), added: “He is well respected in military affairs. He was knowledgeable and served on that committee for a long time.”

Within his district, which includes Fountain Valley, Costa Mesa, Newport Beach, Irvine, Laguna Beach, Laguna Niguel, El Toro and parts of Huntington Beach, Santa Ana and Tustin, Badham has been criticized--usually around election time--for his extensive traveling at taxpayers’ expense and for personal use of campaign contributions. But he has not been reluctant to respond to such criticism.

Congress Watch, a Washington public interest interest organization, reported in 1985 and 1986 that Badham had traveled more than any other congressman except Rep. Stephen Solarz (D-N.Y.). Badham replied that those who didn’t like his travel might want to “vote for someone else” in the next election.

When attacked for spending campaign funds on $500 dresses for his wife, gifts to friends and dinnerware for his home, Badham suggested that donors ask for their money back.

Badham was also criticized for his defense of the Marine Corps’ accident-plagued Super Stallion transport helicopter.

Despite pleas from military dependents, Badham did not call for the craft to be grounded until March of 1987, after nearly 40 major mishaps that had resulted in 20 deaths since 1984.

Not ‘Team Player’

Most recently, Badham was accused of torpedoing plans to turn an Irvine animal shelter into housing for the homeless by blocking a $496,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Although he has been known as a consistent supporter of the Reagan administration on the Armed Services Committee and on the floor of the House, Badham has not always been known by his GOP colleagues as a consistent “team player.” In a 1985 secret ballot, Badham was removed as an executive member of the National Republican Congressional Committee.

Former staff members and some colleagues have characterized Badham’s attitude toward employees and constituents as “aloof.”

Badham is a supporter of Contra aid and drug testing of public service workers. He has been a consistent opponent of offshore oil drilling, parting ways with Interior Secretary Donald Hodel. He also was a strong supporter of the Sgt. York mobile anti-aircraft gun, produced by Ford Aerospace in Irvine, a trouble-plagued project that was canceled by then-Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger in 1985.

Divorced and remarried, Badham has five children.

Times staff writer Jim Carlton contributed to this article.