County Democrats Choose Slate of Delegates

Orange County Democrats beat the war drums Sunday as they selected slates of delegates for the party’s national convention in Atlanta this summer.

In the 40th Congressional District, where there were 38 people competing for four delegate seats pledged to Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis, veteran party officials won. But instead of criticizing their rivals in an effort to win the scarce delegate spots, they focused on the June 7 primary and on capturing the White House in November.

“There is going to be a big campaign here in Orange County,” said Howard Adler of Laguna Hills, former county Democratic Party chairman who successfully sought to become a Dukakis delegate. “This is only a warm-up for November.”

Adler warned other Democrats attending the 40th District caucus in Costa Mesa on Sunday that Dukakis’ front-runner position does not assure him of victory in the California primary.

“This is a funny state,” said Adler. “In 1980, when Jimmy Carter was the front-runner, he didn’t win the California Democratic primary. And in 1984, when Walter Mondale was the front-runner, he also didn’t win California.”

Separate Caucuses

Supporters of the Rev. Jesse Jackson met in separate caucuses at different locations Sunday. They also cited the unpredictable nature of California’s presidential primaries to support their claim that Jackson has a good chance in Orange County and the rest of the state.

But Dukakis partisans on Sunday vowed to keep Jackson from winning any convention delegates in Orange County on June 7.

“Our goal is to make a clean sweep for Dukakis; to make sure that Jesse Jackson gets less than 15% (of the popular vote in the primary),” said Alder.

Under Democratic Party rules, a presidential candidate must win at least 15% of the vote in a congressional district before he can get any share of the delegates.

Adler was one of hundreds of registered Democrats who attended one of the 10 separate caucuses held Sunday afternoon--five in which Dukakis delegates were selected, and five in which delegates were chosen to represent Jackson.

Like Town Hall Meetings

The gatherings, open to any registered Democrat, were somewhat like town hall meetings.

The sessions were held in the five congressional districts that have Orange County constituencies.

The statewide Democratic primary June 7 will decide which of those delegates actually go to the convention. The delegates will be divided proportionately according to how much of the popular vote they garner June 7. For instance, if Dukakis wins 50% of the June 7 vote in the 40th District, half of his elected delegates there will go to the national convention.

While seven national Democrats at one time campaigned for the presidency, Orange County’s shopping list was narrowed to only two--Dukakis and Jackson--by virtue of the earlier primaries around the nation. The other five presidential hopefuls either bowed out or became inactive.

The 40th District caucus of Dukakis supporters drew 255 Democrats, including Adler, to a meeting room at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa.

“I didn’t know there were this many Democrats in Orange County any more,” joked Carole Neustadt of Laguna Hills.

Signs and Balloons

Some of the delegate contestants carried signs and balloons.

Laguna Beach Councilwoman Lida Campbell Lenney wore a straw boater with her name on it.

Before voting, the caucus chairman, Jerry Bloch, of Laguna Beach, read a letter from Dukakis.

“It is clear that this election will not be decided by any one state, any single region,” the letter said. “This race will not be decided until the last vote in the last primary has been counted.”

Whatever the primary election outcome June 7, Orange County Democratic officials said the big fight comes in November. “We have a very good chance of defeating George Bush and winning the White House,” said Adler.