Kovic Tells Friends He Won’t Oppose Dornan : Politics: Although the 43-year-old author who had fanned political speculation declined to confirm his decision not to run, Democrats expressed disappointment.

After two months of anxious speculation and growing national attention, anti-war activist and Hollywood celebrity Ron Kovic told his Democratic associates Tuesday that he will not run for Congress against Rep. Robert K. Dornan (R-Garden Grove) this year.

But Kovic, whose life story is chronicled in the movie “Born on the Fourth of July,” seemed to be avoiding public attention Tuesday as the media and Washington political officials sought confirmation of reports about his decision.

The 43-year-old author declined to comment to a Times photographer who located him at an outdoor pay telephone in Hermosa Beach. Later, he told a reporter who found him in the same area window shopping for antiques that his campaign plans go “back and forth.”

“I don’t want to make any statement right now,” Kovic said. “In fact, I’m trying to get some peace and quiet right now to think about it.”

Kovic’s associates in Los Angeles and Orange County said, however, that he was unequivocal in telling them of his decision Tuesday.

“All I can tell you is that he said in the conversation I had with him at 11:30 (a.m.): ‘I am not running,’ ” said Tim Carpenter, an Orange County Democratic activist who was helping prepare a Kovic campaign.

“I asked him what should I tell (reporters) . . . and he said, ‘Tell them I’m not running.’ That was the extent of it. He did not elaborate,” Carpenter said.

Sidney Galanty, a Democratic political consultant in Los Angeles and friend of Kovic’s, said: “I’m really disappointed. You can’t believe the calls and letters we’ve gotten with money and young people volunteering to help with the campaign in the summer. It would have been a great campaign.”

The deadline for Kovic to enter the race is Friday, and speculation about his decision has grown since he returned last Friday from a two-week European film tour. Until Tuesday morning, many Democratic officials still believed it was likely that Kovic would run.

Orange County Democratic Chairman Michael Balmages said he was told Tuesday morning that Kovic had requested candidate papers from the Registrar of Voters so he could file for the office.

In Washington, Dornan said he is not surprised by Kovic’s reported decision--outlining in his explanation what several sources said would have been a major theme of the Dornan campaign.

“The facts are that the film is one string of lies, distortions and half-truths,” Dornan said. “They’ll get away with it, in the main, if Kovic doesn’t declare. But once he declares, the loser is Oliver Stone (who directed the film). He becomes the flawed biographer and propagandist.”

Kovic disclosed in January that he was considering the race after being approached by several national Democratic officials. In November, Kovic met in Los Angeles with House Speaker Thomas S. Foley (D-Wash.), Majority Leader Richard A. Gephardt (D-Mo.) and Democratic National Chairman Ron Brown.

Kovic fanned the political flames by asking people in January to “write and let me know their feelings” about his possible candidacy. He also talked with surprised audiences at Orange County movie theaters and last month, in a forum at UC Irvine, Kovic whipped the audience into cheers when he yelled, “Should I run?”

The scene at the forum became part of a story on the CBS Evening News with Dan Rather about the congressional race.

The possibility of a Kovic-versus-Dornan contest was also being watched nationally because of its political and theatrical potential.

Entertainment and government figures including Tom Cruise, who played Kovic in the movie, and President Bush were expected to participate in the campaign. And the political debate was certain to be spiced, since the candidates come from opposite sides of the political spectrum.

Without Kovic, Democratic officials said Friday, there are no alternative candidates who have been preparing to run against Dornan in the 38th Congressional District. Democrats outnumber Republicans by about 50% to 41% in the district, which includes Garden Grove and parts of Anaheim, Santa Ana, Westminster and Buena Park.

State Democratic leaders are planning a major registration drive in the area, which also includes the seat of Assemblyman Curt Pringle (R-Garden Grove).

“Dornan may well get a pass (from the Democrats) in 1990, but he can feel confident that he’ll be a marked man in 1992,” said Howard M. Schloss, spokesman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in Washington. “This is probably one of the few men in America who is upset by peace in Eastern Europe.

“If it is true that Ron Kovic has decided not to run, we’re obviously disappointed, but we understand and respect his decision,” Schloss said.

Balmages said, however, “We will have a candidate.

“Right now we’re in the process of talking to people,” he said. “There are several people who inquired about the 38th (Congressional District) before Ron said he might run.”

He added, however, “It’s going to be much tougher for someone else to beat Dornan. Kovic had the horsepower. I really thought he could win.”

Orange County Democratic leader Howard Adler said, “What’s disappointing is that (Kovic) didn’t give us more time” to find another candidate. “At this late date, it’s going to be very difficult to find somebody who is good and who can run.”

Dornan was also already preparing for a campaign against Kovic and what he calls “the Hollywood Left.”

In a five-page letter mailed Jan. 31 that included a picture of Kovic burning a draft card, Dornan noted that the movie shows his opponent mistakenly killing a fellow soldier in Vietnam, “visiting prostitutes, abusing drugs and alcohol and cruelly insulting his parents.”

“And this is a person the liberals want in the U.S. Congress. No way,” he wrote.

Times staff writer Shawn Hubler contributed to this story.