It’s in Reply to His ‘Dear Mike’ Letter : Van de Kamp Gets ‘Dear John’ Letter

Atty. Gen. John Van de Kamp apparently knows that Dana Point City Councilman Mike Eggers is a magnetic figure in South Orange County politics.

In a recent “Dear Mike” letter to Eggers, Van de Kamp sought to enlist him in his bid for the Democratic nomination for governor. “You and I have worked together for years within the Democratic Party to advance our common agenda. . . . “ Van de Kamp wrote.

Oops!

Eggers, a lifelong Republican, is also the full-time district aide of Republican U.S. Rep. Ron Packard, who represents South Orange County and North San Diego County in Congress.

Eggers said on Friday that he guffawed over Van de Kamp’s letter, then dispatched a reply. Eggers’ tongue-in-cheek response said, “I never realized that I have worked so closely with you or the Democratic Party or that we shared a common agenda, especially in light of the fact that I’ve never met you. . . . “

Van de Kamp’s campaign headquarters in Los Angeles acknowledged that it had goofed with the letter to Eggers. “We were seeking endorsements around the state, and when you do a mailing like that, things like this happen,” said Jonas Hanelin, a Van de Kamp campaign aide.

The letter to Eggers said that Van de Kamp’s polls show him leading Pete Wilson among voters likely to turn out next year in the gubernatorial election. Wilson, a Republican from San Diego and a U.S. senator, is the odds-on favorite to win the GOP nomination for governor in 1990.

Van de Kamp’s letter to Eggers continued: “More and more people agree that I can beat Pete Wilson and become our state’s next governor. I’m writing to ask you to join them by endorsing my candidacy.”

Eggers’ response, in effect, told Van de Kamp not to hold his breath. Eggers’ letter noted that Packard and Wilson have been good friends “for many, many years.”

Eggers’ letter added: “All this brings to mind that classic line from the movie ‘Cool Hand Luke’ when the warden said, ‘What we have here is a failure to communicate.’ I can only assume that is the case, although I’m sure some computer list or, worse yet, inexperienced campaign volunteer will be blamed for all this.

“With that in mind, John, I am returning your campaign endorsement card unsigned. As you might expect, a campaign donation check is not in the mail.”