Baker Gains Endorsement From Gates

Irvine Councilman C. David Baker on Thursday rounded up the support of Sheriff-Coroner Brad Gates, the last remaining major endorsement in Orange County for the Republican race in the 40th Congressional District.

Standing in the press room at the County Hall of Administration in Santa Ana, Gates spoke warmly of Baker’s help in the sheriff’s local anti-drug campaign.

“Dave was one of the first public officials to step forward,” Gates said. “It’s the kind of leadership he will give us in Congress.”

Gates lauded Baker’s attendance at several press conferences in the past year when large drug seizures were announced. He also pointed to Baker’s help in contacting the owner of an Orange County movie theater chain who agreed to air an anti-drug commercial this summer.

“He’s a can-do guy,” Gates said.

‘Critical Issue’

Baker, smiling, thanked Gates and said his 13 Republican opponents in the primary race have seized on drugs as a “critical issue, but certainly there couldn’t be a better endorsement than Sheriff Gates.”

On the issue of drugs, however, little difference separates the three front-runners in the June 7 Republican primary to succeed Rep. Robert E. Badham (R-Newport Beach), who decided in January not to seek a seventh term.

Like Baker, Newport Beach businessman Nathan Rosenberg and Newport Beach attorney C. Christopher Cox support a U.S. military role in interdicting drugs at the country’s borders and withholding foreign aid to countries not cooperating with U.S. anti-drug efforts.

“There’s not a dime of difference among the three of them” on the subject of drugs, said Harvey Englander, a Newport Beach-based political consultant.

Gates’ endorsement of Baker, however, was not a given, Englander said.

“Many of his friends wanted Rosenberg,” Englander said. “I would bet the other candidates have tried to get his endorsement. The sheriff is extremely popular. But I don’t know if it is enough to pull Baker through.”

Baker and Rosenberg have accumulated endorsements from most of Orange County’s opinion leaders, with Baker enjoying an edge, Englander added.

Badham has given his support to Baker, as has state Sen. Marian Bergeson (R-Newport Beach), whose district overlaps much of the 40th Congressional District.

During his press conference, Baker recalled his youth when a 3-year-old foster brother from an abused background came to live with his family. He said the man died two years ago drunk and on drugs in a motorcycle collision.

He dismissed the legalization of drugs as a weapon to cut crime. “Anything that would allow more use should be discouraged. Every statistic is a life,” he said.