CAMPAIGN TALK : A weekly window on the California elections

24 days left to register to vote before the May 7 deadline. 53 days left until the June 5 primary election.

Gender: Now that a woman stands in serious contention for the governorship of California, the buzz is all about gender and Dianne Feinstein and women in politics.

Consider this one: Robert Shrum is the political TV advertising consultant who just lost a brutal primary runoff campaign in Texas--Shrum working for the losing man, Jim Mattox, and against the winning woman, Ann Richards. Now Shrum heads west where his client is John Van de Kamp up against, yes, Feinstein. Your move, Bob.

More Gender: If somebody had to wander right into the thorn bush over gender and politics, it might as well be a representative of a macho American stereotype. And so it is that the Peace Officers Research Organization endorsed the Republican in the gubernatorial race, Sen. Pete Wilson. The group dismissed Van de Kamp because he is personally opposed to the death penalty. And they nixed Feinstein because: “I don’t think the voters are ready for a woman governor,” Assn. President Larry Malmberg told the Sacramento Bee.

Next day, Malmberg was pulling his brogan out of his mouth: “That was my personal opinion . . . I apologize. There was no discussion of this at the board meeting. In fact, there was little or no discussion of the candidates at all.”

Down the tubes: Voter Revolt and its leader Harvey Rosenfield have pulled the plug on a rather half-hearted effort to get an initiative on the November ballot that would establish state-run auto insurance. Rosenfield, the author of the 1988 auto insurance reform measure Proposition 103, said he will use students this summer and try for the 1992 ballot. It is the second initiative flop for Voter Revolt, following last fall’s failure to get on the ballot a measure that would raise property taxes for businesses while lowering them for homeowners.

Looking ahead: Voters still might get a chance to see Democrats Feinstein and Van de Kamp debate face-to-face. Aides for both campaigns met quietly this week and reached a debate agreement that they are taking back to their respective bosses. A joint announcement by the campaigns is expected next week.

SOUNDINGS

From actor and environmentalist Ed Begley Jr., critiquing politicians:

“There’s too many weather vanes out there and not enough compasses.”

From Jeff Greene, 21-year-old candidate for the Republican gubernatorial nomination, on front-runner Pete Wilson:

“He is truly a Democrat in elephant’s clothing . . . Pete would like you to think he’s a conservative. But, hey, I know conservatives. Conservatives are friends of mine. Pete Wilson, you are no conservative.”

From The Green Party, in announcing a voter registration drive:

“The Green Party will work toward a radical shift in California’s political debate by providing California voters with a new political alternative based on ecology, social justice and grass - roots democracy.”

EXIT LINE

“I’m a Brown, but a different shade of Brown.” ---- Kathleen Brown, Democratic candidate for state treasurer, explaining that she is differernt from her father and brother, both former governors.

Where the Voters Are

The 5 Counties with the Biggest Voter Registration

County Registration Democrat Republican Other Los Angeles 3,564,440 55% 35% 10% San Diego 1,206,971 39% 47% 14% Orange 1,140137 34% 55% 11% Santa Clara 705,618 50% 37% 13% Alameda 667,707 63% 25% 12%

Counties That Added the Most Voters in the last 2 years

Los Angeles------171,997

San Diego--------113,065

Orange-----------102,607

San Bernardino----87,550

Riverside---------79,740

Source: The Secretary of State’s Report of Registration for January 1990.