Bob Epple: A ‘Likely Target’ in the Next Election

Bob Epple is likely to be a marked man next year when he runs for reelection.

Last November, Epple barely defeated Assemblyman Wayne Grisham (R-Norwalk) by 220 votes, one of the slimmest margins in any recent legislative race in Los Angeles County.

Because of the close contest, Republican political strategists say they are gearing up for a possible challenge next year to the rookie lawmaker from Norwalk, in Southeast’s blue-collar 63rd Assembly District.

If the GOP is going to gain a majority in the Assembly, the party must win seats in such districts, where voters swing between Republicans and Democrats. Republicans, who are outnumbered 47-33 in the Assembly, say they hope to recruit former Cerritos Councilman Don Knabe to run against Epple.

GOP Target

Michael Galizio, chief of staff of Assembly Speaker Willie Brown (D-San Francisco), acknowledged that when the GOP begins to look at Democrats to unseat, Epple is “a likely target.”

Already, one community group in Epple’s district has taken the unusual step of walking precincts to complain about his opposition to a ban on assault weapons. And some Latino activists privately are discussing whether to mount a challenge to Epple in the Democratic primary next June.

Not to be outflanked, Epple is preparing for battle.

He has reported raising about $85,000 this year for his reelection drive and hopes to attract as much as $50,000 more at a $499.95-per-person, blue-plate-special lunch in Sacramento Wednesday, just two days before the end of his first legislative session.

After nine months in the Capitol, reviews of Epple’s performance have been mixed.

Two Issues

Even though Epple has kept a low profile that is common for rookie lawmakers, he has tackled at least two major issues.

He has sought legislation to reform school textbook purchases and to overhaul the way multibillion-dollar utility rate cases are decided. He also has sought--so far unsuccessfully--to win funds for a sports complex in Norwalk and a swimming pool in Downey.

Epple, 41, a lawyer who attends a weekly Christian fellowship for legislators, has won high marks for his ability to quickly analyze bills, as well as for punctuality, preparedness and a likeable, down-to-earth style. “He hasn’t been here long enough to be cavalier about the job,” said one legislative staffer. Epple also has emerged as a pro-labor Democrat, who joined most other Democrats to help Brown win an unprecedented fifth term as Assembly speaker.

In June, Common Cause, the self-styled citizens lobby, commended Epple and 11 other lawmakers for rejecting honorariums for speeches from special-interest groups. “I think the public perception of honorariums is that they are attempts to buy votes,” Epple said in an interview earlier this month. He does not want to be perceived as someone “for sale,” Epple said.

Assemblyman Richard Katz (D-Sylmar), who helped manage Epple’s primary victory last year, said his friend’s constituents don’t want “some polished media-oriented politician. I think they want some guy who reminds them of somebody who they can have over for a barbecue.”

Criticism in District

Back home, however, Epple has drawn fire, especially from some community groups and Latino activists, for his staunch opposition to a ban on assault weapons that was approved by the Legislature and signed into law by Gov. George Deukmejian. Others say his stand on the gun issue is an example of Epple’s failure to have his finger on the political pulse of his district, which spans working class, predominantly white suburbs and growing Latino neighborhoods. It includes Artesia, Cerritos, Downey, East Lakewood, Hawaiian Gardens, Norwalk and Santa Fe Springs.

One political consultant, who asked not to be identified, also cited Epple’s failure to know that his mother, Virginia Epple Lane of Norwalk, had filed to run for the Cerritos Community College Board of Trustees in the November election. Epple acknowledged that he was caught off-guard by his mother’s announcement this summer because he was vacationing in Hawaii. Epple, a former trustee at the college, minimized the criticism, cracking: “When was the last time you tried to keep track of your mother.”

Epple added: “I would really worry if no one had any criticism of me and my positions and votes, because it would mean that I was an absolute nonentity in the Capitol.”

Among 8 Democrats Opposed

The focus of the criticism revolves around Epple’s objections to bills banning the sale of assault weapons--including a measure by Assemblyman Mike Roos (D-Los Angeles), his Sacramento housemate. When Roos’ bill to outlaw certain weapons first came to the floor in March, it was narrowly approved on a 41-38 vote, with Epple joining two other Southeast-area Democrats, Willard Murray Jr. of Paramount and Dave Elder of San Pedro, in opposing the legislation. They were among eight Democrats who voted against it.

In a recent interview, Epple, a member of the National Rifle Assn., said he does not feel banning the guns “would make them any less available” to drug dealers and gang members. “If they can afford it, they’re going to get the weapon they want.”

Jackie Rynerson, a Lakewood city councilwoman, said it was a shock to her that Epple objected to the legislation. “It wasn’t an issue” in the campaign, she said.

It also came as a surprise to the United Neighborhoods Organization, a church-based community group that began in East Los Angeles, whose members were so concerned they met last spring with Epple. With a high percentage of Latino members, the group carries some clout in the 63rd District, where Epple’s office estimates that at least 22% of the registered voters are Latino.

But the meeting, which UNO officials called stormy, failed to change Epple’s mind. About the same time, members of the community group walked five or six precincts in Epple’s district, passing out a “report card,” which said that by opposing the assault weapons ban Epple “voted against the safety of families and neighbors in his district. He caved in to pressure from the NRA.” Dan Saenz, an UNO co-chair, said: “We felt he was not listening to his constituency out there.”

In June, Epple sought to patch up his differences. In a letter to UNO, he said: “Obviously, and regrettably, we had a disagreement over the assault weapons issue” and sought a second meeting.

Saenz, who lives outside the district in Whittier, said he was “encouraged” by the second meeting. Epple stressed that, despite their differences on the assault weapons issue, he and the group agreed on the need for a variety of social, health and welfare legislation. Epple said he was attempting “to build a bridge.”

Latino leaders are taking a wait-and-see approach toward Epple. “I don’t think he’s done a good job shoring up the Latino community,” whose votes could determine the outcome of the next election, said Alex Morales, a member of the Little Lake School District board, which serves Norwalk, Santa Fe Springs and Downey.

Some other Latino activists say that they may attempt to run a candidate against Epple in the Democratic primary next June, mostly in an attempt to prod him to be more responsive to their community.

‘Open Door Policy’

Epple said no Latino leaders have expressed dissatisfaction about him to his face. “I have an open door policy. If they want to send me a message, they are welcome to walk it in any time,” he said.

In addition, Epple could face a well-financed Republican challenger attempting to win back the seat that Grisham held for two terms. Even though Democrats outnumber Republicans 56.7% to 35.8%, the district usually supports GOP candidates for governor and president.

Assemblyman Richard Mountjoy (R-Monrovia) acknowledged that he expects Epple to be a top GOP target.

One potential candidate is former Cerritos City Councilman Don Knabe, who lost a hard-fought campaign last year against Sen. Cecil Green (D-Norwalk). Knabe said the Assembly Republican leadership has asked him to give “serious consideration” to running against Epple.

One GOP strategist, who asked that he not be identified, suggested that Epple won last year because of the weakness of Grisham, who had previously lost a bitter special Senate election. He said the Democratic leadership is watching Epple closely to make sure he does not make any mistakes.

Possible Opponent

The strategist said Knabe, who has high name identification, would be a strong candidate. “I’m still looking at the race and evaluating it very closely, because I know from firsthand experience what it is to take on an incumbent,” Knabe said in a recent interview. Knabe, who said he has not examined Epple’s record, said he anticipates making a decision by the end of the year.

In an interview in his Capitol office, Epple listed two top accomplishments:

* Winning legislative approval for a $2.1-million sports center in Norwalk and $100,000 for a community swimming pool in Downey. Although the money was vetoed by Gov. George Deukmejian in the budget, Epple expects that he will be able to get the projects financed before the session ends on Friday.

He is pushing the facilities as a way to provide teen-agers an alternative to gang membership. “These centers will serve as the cornerstone of an overall community plan to fight gangs,” Epple said in June.

* Pushing for passage of a measure which Epple says would result in a “substantial change” in the state’s textbook adoption laws. Epple, who said the bill stemmed from conversations he had with two teachers at a campaign workshop, said the measure is aimed at shortening the textbook adoption cycle from seven years to two years. Among other things, it also would require the State Board of Education to give specific written reasons for rejecting text materials and add more teachers to the state Curriculum Development and Supplemental Materials Commission.

Critics say that, although the bill and a similar measure by Sen. Ken Maddy (R-Fresno) started out as significant reforms, they have been watered down. The Epple bill is in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Utilities Rate Bill

Legislative staffers also cite as an important consumer-oriented bill an Epple proposal to limit the ability of the state Public Utilities Commission to settle significant utility rate cases without a formal public hearing. The measure passed the Assembly and has been shelved for the year in the Senate, in the face of opposition from utilities. Epple said he became interested in the issue after a conversation with Assemblywoman Gwen Moore (D-Los Angeles), chairwoman of the Utilities and Commerce Committee.

Epple also has supported a variety of pro-labor measures. Among others, he carried legislation to provide that workers on four private toll roads be paid the prevailing wage. The bill became law without Gov. George Deukmejian’s signature.

Epple says he spends most evenings in Sacramento attending receptions and fund-raisers. “For the most part, every night is taken up,” he said.

As a freshman, Epple said, he is adjusting to splitting his weeks between Sacramento and his district, where his wife, who is active in Democratic Party politics, and 7-year-old daughter live. Epple termed being away from his family “probably the most demanding part of the job.”

In learning the ropes, Epple also has had to adjust to such minor inconveniences as having two sets of personal belongings--one at home and the other in Sacramento. “You have two of everything and if you’re lucky you have what you need,” Epple said. He learned the lesson first-hand after the recent four-week legislative recess when, he cracked: “I forgot a simple thing like a belt.”