Lungren Backs Wieder in Congressional Race

Rep. Daniel E. Lungren’s long-awaited endorsement of Orange County Supervisor Harriett M. Wieder as his successor in the 42nd Congressional District finally came Wednesday, giving Wieder’s campaign a much-needed boost in Tuesday’s primary.

In a statement released by Wieder’s campaign office, Lungren (R-Long Beach) said that although there were “many excellent candidates” among the eight Republicans vying to succeed him, “I decided to support Harriett Wieder, a person with whom I have worked on behalf of the people of our area for the past decade.”

He added that he had already cast his absentee ballot for Wieder, in the heavily Republican district where winning the GOP nomination is tantamount to winning the seat.

He could not be reached for further comment.

However, even though the endorsement was not ringing and came just six days before the primary, it was worth waiting for. It is, as Wieder said in an interview, “the crown jewel of endorsements” in the district, which is split between Orange and Los Angeles counties.

“Dan Lungren has always been a very popular congressman,” Wieder said. “Our very first poll showed that a Lungren endorsement was significant.” Several other GOP candidates had sought it.

Wieder said that besides notifying the press of Lungren’s nod, voters will get notification through the mail.

Wieder said Lungren never questioned her about her problems in the campaign, including a recall drive citing her votes for development agreements and her admission that she lied for 25 years about having a college degree when she never attended college.

Also on Wednesday, Wieder responded to the recall notice in an official statement filed with the County Registrar of Voters. It branded recall proponents “out-of-the area” political activists whose allegations “have no basis in truth.”

The recall drive was launched after a development agreement between Orange County and the Irvine Co. was approved April 27 by the Orange County Board of Supervisors in a 3-2 vote.

The agreement protects the Irvine Co.’s plans to build 3,200 housing units, a shopping center and a golf course in Laguna Canyon.