Convention Kicks Off Today for Those Who Dare to Be Democrats in County

It’s not easy being a Democrat in Republican-rich Orange County, but the past year has been particularly rough.

Financial troubles forced the party to dismiss its only paid staffer; an internal rift among party leaders erupted when two factions backed opposing candidates in a key primary; and Democratic registration in the county has dropped more than 10% since the 1988 election.

“I think the mentality of many Democrats is that they feel oppressed by the overwhelming Republican majority,” said Sally Alexander, the party treasurer.

Today, the party launches its best attempt to gain a foothold in the Nov. 6 election with a three-day convention that will include appearances by state and local party leaders, including a Saturday address by gubernatorial nominee Dianne Feinstein.

Orange County, after all, still has the fourth-largest Democratic population in California.

“We have a thriving community that needs to put its talents and energies together to get some morale and effective representation for Orange County,” said county Democratic Chairman Michael Balmages.

This will be the fifth election-year convention for county Democrats, a tradition started in 1984. It is intended to expose the party’s state and local candidates to the rank-and-file, hoping at the same time to generate enthusiasm and cash.

The theme of this convention at Anaheim’s Inn At The Park is “Dare to Care.”

Alexander, the convention chairwoman, explained: “It does require daring, at times, to take action for the homeless, the uneducated, the mentally ill, lonely senior citizens (or) the pregnant teen-ager. . . . But that is a lot of what has made the difference between Democrats and Republicans through the years and what this convention is all about.”

Planning for the convention, however, has been difficult. Coordinators expect about 300 people to attend compared to about 1,000 in 1988 when turnout was helped by the presidential race.

Also, most of the statewide candidates have declined invitations. Besides Feinstein, the only candidates scheduled to speak are John Garamendi, the nominee for state insurance commissioner, and Secretary of State March Fong Eu, who is up for reelection.

State party chairman Edmund G. Brown Jr. was forced to cancel his scheduled speech at the last minute when he was called out of town, Alexander said. And in the county’s key legislative race, Democratic candidate Tom Umberg had to cancel because he is serving a two-week stint in the Army Reserves.

The other Democratic candidates vying for seats in Orange County’s state delegation are scheduled to host workshops on Saturday, focusing on such issues as health care, education, housing and cultural diversity. But even party leaders admit that they don’t expect any of them to win.

“Realistically, they’re probably not going to win,” said Balmages, who still praised the quality of the candidates. “I’d like to see them lay the foundation for future runs.”

Balmages said the goals within the party’s grasp this November are the election of Umberg over Assemblyman Curt Pringle (R-Garden Grove) and boosting Feinstein’s chances in the governor’s race.

On Sunday, Larry Agran, the former Irvine mayor who lost his bid for reelection in June, is scheduled to host a morning workshop with state Sen. Cecil N. Green (D-Norwalk), the only Democratic legislator who represents a portion of Orange County.

There is also ethnic food and a dance scheduled for the convention on Saturday evening.

The Democrats’ task in November is particularly daunting when compared to Orange County’s Republican Party, the largest and wealthiest in California.

GOP Chairman Thomas Fuentes said the county is expecting several visits from prominent Republicans before the election, possibly including President Bush.

For Pringle alone, Republicans have already scheduled a fund-raising appearance by White House drug czar William Bennett, and they are hoping that Vice President Dan Quayle will campaign for the assemblyman later this month.

County Republicans have also launched a registration drive aimed at converting Orange County Democrats, many of whom vote Republican anyway.

A GOP letter recently sent to Democratic voters said: “If you find it difficult to identify with Democratic leaders such as (Assembly Speaker) Willie Brown, (Assemblyman) Tom Hayden, (former presidential candidate) Walter Mondale and your newly elected California Democratic Party chairman, Jerry Brown, (yes, that Jerry Brown), then consider joining us.”

Considering the Democratic Party’s declining registration and cash problems, Alexander said one of the Democratic convention goals is just plain organization.

“We are getting ourselves together to elect a Democratic president in 1992,” she said.