Lungren Won’t Seek to Retain Congress Seat

Gambling his political future on his legal fight to assume the office of state treasurer, Rep. Daniel E. Lungren announced Wednesday that he will not seek reelection to his Long Beach congressional seat.

The announcement thrust Orange County Supervisor Harriett Wieder into the role of front-runner in the Republican primary race to succeed him, political analysts said Wednesday.

In a statement issued from his Washington office, the five-term Republican congressman said his decision came “after careful consideration and lengthy discussions” with his family and grew out of concern that campaigning for Congress while pursuing the state treasurer’s job might confuse the public.

With the approach of the March 11 deadline for filing for reelection, there would be too little time “for a final judicial decision on my appointment as treasurer,” Lungren said. “In light of that, I feel I owe it to my constituents to resolve any doubt.”

Lungren’s decision not to seek reelection to Congress also helps his party by clearing the way for several Republicans to run for his seat.

Eileen Padberg, an Republican consultant and adviser to Wieder, said, “It’s now absolutely clear that Supervisor Wieder is the front-runner.”

Wieder, the only one of the five prospective candidates from Orange County, has the biggest political base, according to Thomas A. Fuentes, chairman of the Republican Party in Orange County.

Wieder said she has raised, or has commitments for, more than half of the $250,000 that observers say will be needed to make a successful race.

Wieder herself declined to take the front-runner mantle Wednesday, saying, “I would rather just say that I am the most qualified and experienced candidate.”

Lungren’s announcement was another surprise in the political drama highlighted last week by the Legislature’s split on Lungren’s confirmation: The Senate rejected him on a 19-21 vote and the Assembly voted 43 to 32 to confirm him.

Disputed Point

Lungren and Gov. George Deukmejian, contending that it takes rejection by both houses to deny confirmation, have strongly indicated that they will press their case in court despite formal legal opinions from Atty. Gen. John K. Van de Kamp and Legislative Counsel Bion Gregory that say rejection by one house is sufficient.

On Wednesday, Deukmejian praised Lungren’s decision as “a courageous, statesmanlike action,” and said his withdrawal will set “the stage for the election of a new Republican representative this fall.”

Both Lungren and Deukmejian, however, were quiet about their next step in seeking a court determination of Lungren’s claim on the treasurer’s office. Lungren said he expects to announce his strategy next week and Deukmejian said his advisers are looking for an “expeditious” way of resolving the dispute.

Although Lungren had been widely expected to file for reelection while seeking the treasurer’s office, supporters said they hope his decision to withdraw from the congressional race will underscore the confidence he has in the Administration’s legal position.

“I think he feels his case is strong and that he’s determined to secure the (treasurer’s) post,” said Tom Needles, Lungren’s press secretary.

No Other Offer

One Administration official who asked not to be identified said that Lungren has been offered no assurances of an appointment should the court challenge fail, leaving him without a job. “The whole focus is on Dan Lungren ultimately assuming the position of treasurer,” the official said. “There have been no other discussions.”

Others suggested, however, that even if Lungren loses his court fight, he will gain politically by the media exposure. “Although it’s a gamble for the treasurer’s office, he still will be (gaining name recognition) statewide,” a Lungren aide said.

Lungren, who was in Long Beach on Tuesday night where he officiated at a fund-raiser, decided to make his announcement after flying back to Washington to participate in House action on extension of the 1984 Civil Rights Act.

GOP contenders in the heavily Republican 42nd District have been in a quandary since Deukmejian nominated Lungren to succeed the late Democrat Jesse M. Unruh as treasurer.

A Clearer Outlook

“Obviously, it makes the race less complicated,” said Stephen Horn, former president of Cal State Long Beach and one of five potential contenders for Lungren’s seat. “It would have been an impossible situation . . . to run against a Republican officeholder.”

All of the prospective candidates greeted Lungren’s announcement with an expression of relief, saying they can now get on with campaigning and raising money in the district, which stretches from Torrance and the Palos Verdes Peninsula to Huntington Beach in Orange County.

“Now we know we have a race that won’t be clouded,” said Andrew Littlefair of Torrance, a candidate who is a former campaign aide to President Reagan.

Besides Wieder, Horn and Littlefield, the other two likely candidates are Dana Rohrabacher, a presidential speech writer, and Robert Welbourn, a former Palos Verdes Estates councilman.