It’s Official: Baker Has Bergeson’s Backing

Irvine City Councilman C. David Baker predicted that state Sen. Marian Bergeson’s endorsement of him in the 40th Congressional District race Friday will generate “tremendous momentum” for his campaign, attracting the votes and contributions needed to win.

Bergeson (R-Newport Beach), as expected, publicly announced her support for Baker Friday, joining a growing list of prominent Republicans in the county who have lined up behind the conservative councilman.

Baker is one of 13 Republicans seeking the nomination in the June 7 primary for the seat being vacated by Rep. Robert E. Badham (R-Newport Beach). Badham announced in January that he will retire.

Bergeson praised Baker’s knowledge of local issues and his role in guiding the city of Irvine through its “formative years.” She added that Baker has “clearly engendered the confidence of Irvine voters . . . and that’s important.”

Before she decided to endorse Baker, Bergeson said, she met with the “leading contenders,” including Newport Beach businessman Nathan Rosenberg, Newport Beach lawyer C. Christopher Cox and Costa Mesa Councilman Peter Buffa.

Baker said after the press conference that he had met “three or four times” with Bergeson in recent weeks and had been “hoping and praying” for her blessing in his first run for Congress.

Later Friday, at what was billed as a luncheon debate between Baker and Rosenberg, Baker said he opposes the countywide slow-growth initiative on the June ballot. (Under the initiative, development would be tied to the construction of new roads.) He called the measure a direct threat to the rights of private property owners.

Although he predicted that residents will give overwhelming approval to the measure and suggested that it would be politically expedient to support it, Baker voiced his disapproval.

Positions Described

“I haven’t supported it and really can’t,” he said. “If you are a Republican, those of us who want less government control and want to defend private property rights, this is not the initiative to support.”

The solution to the traffic crisis, Baker said, is not to halt development but to reduce the density of future projects and to begin building more roads with money already collected for that purpose.

Rosenberg, for his part, told the members of the businessmen’s club gathered at a restaurant near John Wayne Airport that he remains undecided on the slow-growth measure. He said a recent poll conducted by his campaign staff shows that a substantial number of Republicans in the district favor the initiative.

“It’s not a question of whether it’s going to pass, but by how much,” Rosemberg said.

But the debate was overshadowed by Bergeson’s endorsement.

Felt ‘Obligation’

It is only the second time that Bergeson--who considered running herself after Badham announced his intention to retire--has endorsed a candidate before a primary. Four years ago, she backed Ken Carpenter in the 70th District contest won by Assemblyman Gil Ferguson.

Bergeson told reporters Friday that she makes endorsements “when I think it is important to play a role.” She added that she had been courted actively by most of the candidates in the race to replace Badham. She also said she felt obligated to make her position public because of the keen interest in whom she would back.

“I owe this to the public,” she said.

Baker had sharp words for Rosenberg, who Thursday tried to downplay Bergeson’s endorsement. Rosenberg called the endorsement “wrong for the party” and another example of the party’s “good old boy network” in action.

Rosenberg ruffled party leaders by challenging Badham in 1986, when he landed nearly 35% of the vote in a bitterly fought primary.

Baker responded Friday: “I’m disappointed that he continues to attack the Republican Party of the County of Orange. The endorsements I have come from leaders in this district, not from out of state . . . .”

Baker also has endorsements from Badham and county Supervisor Thomas F. Riley. And earlier this week, Buffa, a first-term councilman in Costa Mesa, withdrew from the race and threw his support to Baker.

Rosenberg has the endorsements of U.S. Sen. John Mc Cain of Arizona and Arizona Rep. Jim Kolbe. He contends that these endorsements mean that he will be able to “hit the ground running” should he be elected.