Vasquez Announces Candidacy, Reveals Bankroll, Backers

Orange County Supervisor Gaddi H. Vasquez, who was appointed to his seat less than a year ago by Gov. George Deukmejian, formally announced Monday that he will run for election this year, revealing an already formidable bankroll and a list of more than 100 elected supporters.

Vasquez said that he has raised nearly $400,000 so far and that his list of endorsements from Orange County elected officials includes 16 mayors, 62 city council members, 12 of the county’s 13 legislators and four of the county’s five members of Congress.

With only four days left before the filing deadline, the county registrar of voters office reported Monday that only two, little-known opponents had expressed interest in Vasquez’s 3rd District seat. They are Sam Porter, a director of the Santa Ana Mountains County Water District, and James C. Mansfield, a retired deputy county assessor.

Asked whether he believes that he had scared off other competition, Vasquez said, “When one evaluates the support (I) have today, one has to make that a consideration. The quality of the candidate has to be based on the public support.”

Vasquez said transportation and growth will probably top the issues on his campaign agenda. He is an opponent of the slow-growth initiative on the June ballot and said he is uncertain how that issue will affect his chances for election.

He also listed hazardous wastes, child care and jails as major issues in his campaign.

“We have a record we can stand on, that we can take to the public--and I think it will stand the test,” he said.

Vasquez said he has hired nationally known Republican pollster Gary C. Lawrence, who is a resident of the 3rd District. Lawrence has done polling for President Reagan and 1986 Republican Senate candidate Ed Zschau.

Vasquez, 33, is a former Orange police officer and deputy appointments secretary to Deukmejian. He was also an aide to Bruce Nestande, who resigned as supervisor last year and was succeeded by Vasquez.

Vasquez has never won an election. He ran for the Orange City Council in 1984 and finished fourth in a race for three seats.

Vasquez is a Republican, but the supervisor’s race is nonpartisan. Vasquez lives in Mission Viejo with his wife, Elaine, and 8-year-old son, Jason.