Coolness to GOP Nominee Nettles Some in Caucus

Several conservative Republican lawmakers have abandoned their party’s nominee in a special election to fill a Southern California Assembly seat, choosing instead to remain neutral or support the write-in campaign of a Republican businessman who finished second in the primary.

The rift has left the GOP nominee--Tricia Hunter of Bonita--with little backing so far from the 32 Republican lawmakers who might soon be her colleagues.

It also threatens to reopen old wounds in a caucus still reeling from the loss of three seats in last year’s elections and criminal investigations involving several party leaders.

When Assembly Republicans meet privately today, GOP Leader Ross Johnson of La Habra is expected to come under attack for his decision to support one of Hunter’s opponents, Poway businessman Dick Lyles, in the Aug. 8 primary. Johnson reportedly had promised his colleagues that caucus leaders would not meddle in party primaries.

As many as 15 or 16 members of the caucus are ready to support a proposal that would require that all major decisions be reached by consensus, several GOP sources said Monday. If Johnson is unwilling to go along with the plan, the group might seek to oust him as leader.

“They (caucus leaders) said they were not going to get involved in primaries, and then they got involved and lost,” one Republican lawmaker said. “A lot of members are worried that we are going into an election year and we are losing elections.”

Although Johnson said Monday that he has “always supported Republican nominees,” he has yet to endorse Hunter, a nurse appointed by Gov. George Deukmejian to two terms on the state Board of Registered Nursing.

“I’m not in a position yet that I feel the timing is propitious to formally endorse her,” Johnson said.

Two members of the caucus have come out publicly for Lyles. Most of the others have remained neutral--an unusual stance that could enhance the credibility of the write-in bid.

Hunter finished first in the bitterly contested Aug. 8 primary for the 76th Assembly District, which straddles parts of San Diego and Riverside counties. Hunter won 30.5% of the vote, 197 votes ahead of Lyles.

The Democratic nominee, Jeannine Correia, who appeared on the same ballot as Hunter and Lyles, finished fifth, with 6.6%. Under the rules governing special legislative elections, Correia advanced to the runoff as the Democrat with the most votes.

Lyles’ write-in effort is being encouraged by anti-abortion groups that supported him in the primary and opposed Hunter, a staunch advocate of abortion rights who has enjoyed the support of such traditionally Democratic-leaning groups as the American Civil Liberties Union and the National Organization for Women.

A Hunter aide said Monday that the candidate is not worried. Political consultant Joe Shumate noted that Hunter has been endorsed by Republican Party officials across the state, and he predicted that a majority of Assembly Republicans would embrace the campaign before the Oct. 3 runoff. “I think it’s very difficult for them not to support the Republican nominee,” Shumate said.

Endorsements from members of the Legislature, while perhaps not persuasive with voters, are a key element in any candidate’s fund-raising plan, because much of the money contributed to campaigns comes from businesses and political action committees that support or oppose bills pending before the lawmakers.

Lyles said Monday that he is not actively seeking endorsements but has received “a lot of calls” from members of the caucus. “Some feel they cannot do it publicly and are doing it privately,” he said.

Among those who have endorsed Lyles is Assemblyman Gil Ferguson of Newport Beach, who is one of the Republicans’ top fund-raisers. Ferguson said he expects no more than a few additional lawmakers to support Lyles openly because “it is easier for politicians to remain neutral publicly.” But he said the absence of vocal support for Hunter is, in effect, a boost for Lyles.

“He could not possibly run a write-in campaign if the caucus came out strongly in favor of Mrs. Hunter,” Ferguson said.

The other member who has endorsed Lyles is Assemblyman Richard Mountjoy (R-Monrovia). Two influential members of the caucus--Pat Nolan of Glendale, who is the former Republican leader, and John Lewis of Orange, the party’s former elections committee chairman--said they are staying out of the race.

Lewis laughed loudly when he overheard a reporter asking Nolan if he intended to endorse Hunter.

Despite Johnson’s balancing act, Hunter’s strongest backer in the Legislature--Assemblyman Charles W. Quackenbush (R-Saratoga)--said Monday that he believes the leadership will support Hunter in the special election and that she will be elected and withstand any challenge in next June’s GOP primary.

“Once she’s been elected and she’s up here and she’s voting for people’s bills and forming those normal relationships you form here, most of the steam will go out of the move to challenge her in the primary,” he said.