ORANGE COUNTY ELECTIONS : Vasquez Avoids Election Challenge From Slow-Growth Activists

After weeks of speculation that he might face a slow-growth opponent, Supervisor Gaddi H. Vasquez slipped by the Friday filing deadline for the June supervisorial races with no one from that movement announcing that they will run against him.

Tom Rogers, co-founder of the organization that drafted the countywide slow-growth initiative, acknowledged that slow-growth activists could not find a candidate to challenge Vasquez, whom they had labeled as a solid vote for developers.

“The timing was right to run against him, but we were unable to field a real serious candidate in that race,” Rogers said. “It’s disappointing, but it would be far more disappointing to drain off our resources and lose the initiative.”

Thus, after less than a year in office, Vasquez will be the overwhelming favorite to retain his 3rd District seat for another four years. Vasquez, 33, was appointed to his seat in the spring by Gov. George Deukmejian after former Supervisor Bruce Nestande resigned.

One Opponent Registered

Sam Porter, a director for the Santa Ana Mountains Water District, was the only opponent to register against Vasquez. He supports the slow-growth movement but has not been a leader behind the initiative.

Asked whether he believes he has scared off competition, Vasquez said: “In 11 months in office we have been responsive to priority No. 1. That’s transportation. We have shown a capability to do the job.”

The slow-growth initiative loomed as a political iceberg before the Board of Supervisors when its sponsors filed 96,000 petition signatures last month to qualify the measure for the June 7 ballot.

Because initiative leaders had been so critical of the supervisors and their votes for development, there has been speculation that the issue could be a major factor in the campaigns of Vasquez and the other incumbent supervisor facing an election this year, Roger R. Stanton.

The issue is still certain to be raised in both races. But as the filing deadline passed Friday, both Vasquez and Stanton remained strong election favorites.

Positions Tempered

And both have tempered their positions on the initiative. On Friday, both said they support the measure’s intent to restrict growth but are concerned about the projected fiscal problems it would cause the government and the county’s economy. Both said that they would support the initiative if it were modified and that they will implement it if it is passed by the voters in June, as both expect it will be.

Ron May, a Santa Ana City Council member and a supporter of the initiative, filed to run against Stanton in the First District.

But 96% of Stanton’s district is incorporated and therefore not directly affected by the initiative. Also, Stanton recently cast several key votes against county agreements with developers, which have caused Rogers to withdraw his criticism of Stanton.

“That was our litmus test,” Rogers said of the development agreement votes. “We’re more happy than ever with Roger Stanton.”

Santa Ana Endorsements

Stanton, who announced Friday that he would run for reelection to the Board of Supervisors, also has the endorsement of the six other members of the Santa Ana City Council.

“The issues are qualification and experience,” Stanton said. “I kept a new jail out of Santa Ana. I don’t think that would have happened without strong representation.”

Stanton held a press conference Friday morning with about 70 supporters from city councils in his district, labor leaders, community groups and ethnic communities. He said he has so far raised about $300,000 for his bid for a third term.

Vasquez said he has raised almost $400,000 so far for his campaign. And he released a list earlier this week of more than 100 elected county officials from 24 cities who support his candidacy.