CALIFORNIA ELECTIONS INSURANCE COMMISSIONER : TV Ads Aim to Scare Up Some Votes

The first television commercials produced in the insurance commissioner’s race, by State Board of Equalization Chairman Conway Collis and television commentator Bill Press, are in conflict: The two Democrats both claim to be the man the insurance companies will fear the most.

The theme is a familiar one in California politics. Back in 1974, Democrat Kenneth Cory swept to victory for the post of state Controller with an advertising campaign that focused on the assertion that he was “the man the oil companies fear most.”

In 1974, it was gasoline prices and the energy crisis that had swept the oil companies to the fore as far as widespread public antipathy was concerned. This year, high auto and health insurance rates have landed the insurance companies in that position.

No matter that as controller for 12 years, Cory did little or nothing that effectively cracked down on the oil companies, nor that there was ever much evidence that he so much as worried them. The campaign tactic had proved effective.

Both Press and Collis contend in this case that their claims are justified by their respective anti-industry positions.

Collis insists that with his pledge to be “unfair” to the companies and possibly kick them out of the state, he has gone further than Press. He said Thursday that he had decided to claim that he scares the companies the most, after he surmised that Press would claim that he scares them the most.

Press has said his record indicates that he is a harder and more effective fighter than Collis, who he says has come lately to the insurance fight.

Both Collis’ 30-second commercial and Press’ three 10-second ones will begin airing this weekend. Two other prominent Democratic candidates, state Sen. John Garamendi and former California Common Cause Director Walter Zelman, have as yet cut no commercials, and another, San Francisco attorney Ray Bourhis, said Thursday that he would not reveal his campaign strategy.

At this point, it appears that Garamendi may put the most into television advertising, based in part on the hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions he has storedfrom previous races. But Press and Collis may not be far behind. A Zelman aide indicated that there may not be any Zelman television, and Bourhis, while having a considerable personal fortune, has not raised much in contributions.

Bourhis expressed the view that the public this year may be skeptical of those who spend a lot on television. Having such money to spend on commercials indicates that there is improper influence by special interests on the candidates spending it, he said.

The five candidates for the Republican nomination each say they will have enough money for television.

Press, meanwhile, said Thursday that Garamendi has yet to respond to his invitation of last week for the two to meet in a face-to-face debate. He pointed out that in several recent polls, he and Garamendi have been running one-two in the Democratic contest.