ELECTIONS / CONGRESS : Gallegly, Korman Give Views in 21st Race

Overview

The Republican primary in the overwhelmingly Republican district is a rematch of the 1988 primary in which Calabasas developer Sang Korman challenged incumbent Elton Gallegly. In that election, Korman received just 14% of the vote despite spending almost twice as much as Gallegly. This time, Gallegly has raised more money and is expected to retain his seat. This is despite Korman’s stepped-up attacks on his opponent’s donations from political action committees and alleged instigation of an internal FBI investigation of agents who lobbied him about 1987 legislation to raise FBI agents’ overtime pay. An investigation cleared the agents of wrongdoing.

Contenders

Elton Gallegly, 46, a Simi Valley Republican, has served in the House for four years. Prior to that, he was on the Simi Valley City Council for seven years, including six years as mayor. A Simi Valley real estate agent before his election to Congress, Gallegly attended Cal State Los Angeles from 1963 to 1964. He and his wife, Janice, have four children.

Sang Korman, 53, a Calabasas resident, was defeated by Gallegly in the 1988 primary. The president of a commercial real estate agency in Los Angeles, Korman came to the United States from Korea in 1972 with less than $100. He manufactured and sold gold golf clubs in the mid-1970s prior to entering real estate 10 years ago. A graduate of Korea University in Seoul, Korman became an American citizen in 1980. He and his wife, Myung, have three children.

Democrat Richard D. Freiman and Libertarian Peggy Christensen are unopposed in their primaries. Their names will appear on the general election ballot in November.

Questionnaire

Questionnaires were distributed to candidates in contested primary races and were returned this month. Answers have been edited to fit the available space.

Q. Do you believe that there will be a “peace dividend” as a result of reduced tension with the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact nations?

If yes, would you generally be most inclined to use the dividend to: a) spend more on domestic needs, b) reduce the deficit, c) cut taxes? Gallegly: Yes. Cut taxes.

Korman: Yes. Domestic needs.

Q. Do you believe our present system of criminal prosecution, interdiction of supplies and imprisonment of dealers and users will ever significantly reduce the level of drug use in the United States?

If no, what should be done? Gallegly: Yes. We must get even tougher in enforcing drug laws.

Korman: No. Mandate jail terms with educational and rehabilitation programs for casual drug users. Increase the use of the military to stop drugs at the borders.

Q. Would you consider the possibility of decriminalizing drugs?

Gallegly: No.

Korman: No.

Q. Under the Gramm-Rudman law, the federal government is supposed to cut the budget deficit to zero by 1993. Is that a realistic goal?

Briefly explain your answer.

Gallegly: Yes. Revenues are growing because of the strong U. S. economy. Congress must make the tough cuts. If Congress would cut wasteful pork-barrel projects, we can cut the deficit to zero by 1993.

Korman: Yes. Savings can be realized in foreign aid, military appropriations, congressional pay and the National Endowment for the Arts. Increase efforts to uncover waste and fraud.

Q. Rising property values in the Santa Monica Mountains have made it more difficult for state and federal parks agencies to buy land for public use. Land prices have escalated in part because local officials have allowed developers to build more houses than provided for under zoning laws. To keep property prices more affordable to parks agencies, should governments in Los Angeles and Ventura counties refuse such so-called “upzoning.”

Gallegly: No answer.

Korman: Yes. The affordable housing crisis is real. We must not overdevelop. The problems caused by overdevelopment include pollution, transportation, water shortages and loss of open space.

Q. Do you support President Bush’s call for a capital gains tax cut to stimulate economic growth?

Gallegly: Yes.

Korman: Yes.

Q. Do you support capital punishment?

Gallegly: Yes.

Korman: Yes.

Q. Do you support a woman’s unrestricted right to an abortion within the first three months of pregnancy?

Gallegly: No. “Unrestricted” right would allow abortions for sex selection and for teen-agers without parental consent. The Supreme Court has indicated the issue should be determined by state legislatures.

Korman: No. Supports a woman’s right to an abortion in cases of rape, incest and where the life of the mother is in danger.

Q. Do you support President Bush’s policy of seeking to maintain good relations with China’s current regime despite its violent suppression of the pro-democracy movement last year?

If no, what specific measures should the United States take against China?

Gallegly: No. Restrict Chinese imports to U. S. (temporary suspension of most favored nation trading status), restrict U. S. high-tech exports to China, extend visas of Chinese in U. S.

Korman: No. We should refuse to transfer some technology to China and actively support the pro-democracy movement in every way possible.

Q. Do you support removing China’s most-favored trading nation status because of the regime’s repressive policies?

Gallegly: Yes.

Korman: Yes.

Q. Do you support Senate Minority Leader Bob Dole’s proposal to shift foreign aid from traditional allies, including Israel, to newly emergent democracies in Eastern Europe and drug-fighting nations in Latin America?

Gallegly: No.

Korman: No.

Q. Do you favor opening up additional parts of the California coastline to oil exploration under any circumstances other than a national emergency?

Gallegly: Yes. For exploration only, to learn what reserves are available for use in national energy crisis planning.

Korman: No.

Q. Congress has passed legislation that would expand tax credits for low-income parents with children in day care and create school-based day-care programs for “latchkey” children of middle-income families. President Bush has threatened to veto the legislation, which will cost $27 billion, unless its cost is dramatically reduced. Do you support the President?

If no, briefly explain your answer.

Gallegly: Yes.

Korman: Yes. A very good idea, but the cost is too high and not enough benefits are received by the people who need it the most in the 21st District.

Q. Would you support a national gasoline tax increase if the proceeds were dedicated to improving transportation?

Gallegly: No.

Korman: Yes.

Q. Would you support a national gasoline tax increase to reduce the deficit?

Gallegly: No.

Korman: No.

Q. Do you support limiting the amount of money a candidate for national office can spend on the campaign?

Gallegly: Yes.

Korman: Yes.

Q. Would you support at least a partial taxpayer-financed campaign funding as part of a reform package that limited spending?

Gallegly: No.

Korman: No.

Q. Do you support limiting the number of terms that U.S. senators and representatives can serve?

If yes, what should the limit be?

Gallegly: Yes. No additional response.

Korman: Yes. Two six-year terms for U. S. senators; four two-year terms for U. S. representatives.

Q. Do you favor more control over the availability of handguns to the general public?

If yes, what specific controls?

Gallegly: No. Supported Brady Amendment, a nationwide seven-day waiting period. Law would not have affected California, which has a 15-day waiting period.

Korman: No. No additional response.

Q. Do you support the current program to build a “Star Wars” anti-missile system?

If yes, do you think the program is adequately funded?

Gallegly: Yes. No; funding in 1990 is significantly below the President’s request.

Korman: Yes. Yes.