Local News in Brief : Anaheim : Democratic Task Force Forged to Back Dukakis

More than 500 Democratic officials from 46 counties announced Tuesday at the National Assn. of Counties convention that they have formed a task force to work for the election of Democratic nominees Michael S. Dukakis and Lloyd Bentsen.

John Horsley, a commissioner from Kitsap County, Wash., and a former president of the county association, said the group is hoping to bolster Michael Dukakis’ campaign by lobbying voters in rural and suburban areas who are not yet committed to either party.

“We want each of these (county) officials to turn their networks on to the (Dukakis-Bentsen) campaign,” Horsley said. “It’s going to be a close election. We could make that critical difference.”

Horsley, who has been a Dukakis supporter since 1986, said the group plans to register voters throughout the country and form county and statewide committees to work for the Dukakis-Bentsen campaign. Dukakis welcomed the group’s support in a message sent to them at the Anaheim Convention Center.

Republican members of the county association have yet to form a parallel organization to support the presidential campaign of Vice President George Bush. But Jim Snyder, this year’s president of the association, said he expects one will be organized soon.

Also on Tuesday, association members elected Kaye Braaten, a county commissioner from Kirkland County, N.D., to the post of third vice president.