SANTA ANA : Malathion Foe Shifts to Yudelson Camp

The leader of a Garden Grove residents’ group created to battle malathion spraying said Monday that she has switched her party affiliation from Republican to Democrat so she can vote for Assembly candidate Jerry Yudelson in next month’s primary.

Mollie Haines, chairwoman of Garden Grove Residents Against Malathion Spraying, said at a morning press conference in Santa Ana that Yudelson is “the one candidate we can totally trust to get malathion spraying stopped permanently. . . . I’ve changed (parties) just because of this experience.”

Yudelson, who is running against Tom Umberg in the June 5 Democratic primary for the 72nd Assembly District, is one of the founders of the anti-malathion group.

The community group, with about 250 members, has sponsored several rallies to condemn the helicopter spraying to eradicate the Mediterranean fruit fly. Members also have protested the policy at City Council and county supervisor meetings.

Haines said she was also speaking for Claudia Klein, another officer in the group who also switched her party affiliation to vote for Yudelson.

The winner of the Democratic primary will face incumbent Curt Pringle (R-Garden Grove) in November. Haines said that she has asked Pringle to author legislation calling for a halt to the spraying but that he has declined.

Pringle has written a letter to the governor, requesting a halt to the spraying. And he has sponsored legislation to fund the production of more sterile flies as an alternative to spraying. But Haines said Pringle’s actions have been inadequate.

Pringle said Monday: “I am going to do everything I can to make sure that malathion spraying is stopped.”

I am outraged at the fact the administration has not responded to the community’s concerns better.”

He added that legislation calling for an immediate halt to the spraying has failed.