CALIFORNIA ELECTIONS LEGISLATURE : Democrats Hope to Loosen GOP Stranglehold : As usual, the numbers--in money and voters--mostly favor the Republicans, but hopes are still high, especially for the Pringle vs. Umberg race.

At the Orange County Democratic Party convention last weekend, county party chairman Michael Balmages said this year’s crop of state legislative candidates was the best the party’s ever had.

But in the same breath, he also suggested that the Democrats don’t have a very good chance of winning more than one race--the 72nd District Assembly race between Curt Pringle (R-Garden Grove) and former federal prosecutor Tom Umberg.

The other Democratic candidates, who are working hard to overcome significant Republican advantages in both voter registration and money, angrily dispute that and promise to break the Republican Party’s stranglehold on Orange County’s share of legislative seats.

“We’re going to win a lot of races at the local level that no one thinks we’re going to win,” said James Toledano, Democratic challenger to Assemblyman Nolan Frizzelle (R-Huntington Beach) in the 69th district.

Maybe they will. But the underfunded Democrats will be hard-pressed to shake loose enough Republican voters to score any upsets.

One Democrat at least won’t have the added difficulty of taking on an incumbent. Assemblyman Dennis Brown (R-Los Alamitos) in the 58th District is not running for reelection. He will be succeeded by either Huntington Beach Mayor Thomas J. Mays, a Republican, or Democrat Luanne Pryor, the owner of a public relations firm.

Mays, who gained widespread name recognition with several TV appearances during the Huntington Beach oil spill in February, survived a tough Republican primary battle to get to the November election, and Republicans hold a 50% to 39% edge in voter registration in the bi-county district.

But Pryor rejects a simple application of the numbers in her race.

“You can’t attach a formula to this race,” she said. “It’s an open seat, and this is an unprecedented opportunity.”

Pryor intends to focus her campaign on two issues on which she believes that she is more in line with district voters: abortion and the environment. Pryor supports a woman’s right to an abortion, and she said that Mays only became concerned about the environment after the oil spill.

Mays, who supports limiting abortion to cases of rape, incest or when a mother’s life is endangered, said Pryor is wrong about his environmental concerns, and points to his own opposition to offshore oil drilling and malathion spraying.

As for his own issues, Mays said he thinks that California must create a better environment for businesses or risk losing thousands of jobs.

“We’ve got to maintain our economic base,” Mays said. “There’s a lot of pressure right now (on businesses) to move out of the area.”

A third candidate, Libertarian Scott Stier, is also running in the 58th District race.

Assembly Minority Leader Ross Johnson (R-La Habra) doesn’t expect to have a problem holding on to his 64th district seat. He is opposed by Democrat Kevin Gardner, a first-time candidate for public office who understands that getting elected may be a long process.

“I hadn’t planned on running for a few more years,” Gardner said. “But the party asked me to run. . . . We’re laying the groundwork for future campaigns.”

In the 67th district, Assemblyman John R. Lewis (R-Orange) faces Fred Smoller, a Chapman College political science professor.

Smoller already has set the tone for his campaign with a hard-hitting TV ad attacking Lewis, who was indicted last year for his participation in forging President Reagan’s signature on a series of political mailers. The case was dismissed in January after a judge ruled that political forgery was not covered under criminal statutes.

“Clearly, integrity is the key issue in this campaign,” Smoller said. “He has contempt for the process . . . and the ideology he professes is really dysfunctional.”

Smoller also criticized Lewis for what he said was an attempt to intimidate him and the college. After a Chapman College alumni magazine printed a story about Smoller, Lewis complained to the college Board of Trustees that the article was heavily slanted and might have violated rules against nonprofit institutions engaging in partisan politics.

Lewis said that he received many complaints about the article and that he rejected the suggestion that his letters were meant to intimidate.

“I didn’t file a complaint,” Lewis said. “But it was certainly a very close call.”

A staunch conservative who introduces few bills and who for years has been one of the state Republican Party’s top election strategists, Lewis said the forgery charges against him were “politically inspired” by state Atty. Gen. John Van de Kamp. “People are very intelligent--they can see through a lot of that stuff,” Lewis said, adding that he thinks that Smoller’s “negative campaign” against him will backfire.

“All he’s doing is attacking me,” Lewis said. “There’s a very stark philosophic difference between us. He’s a ‘60s-type Democrat, and that won’t play very well in this district.”

In the 69th District, Frizzelle, the incumbent, has a similarly aggressive candidate on his hands in Toledano, a business attorney who bristles at talk of automatic Republican domination of his own and other races.

“When I tell people about (Frizzelle’s) record, their mouths drop open,” Toledano said. “The only thing that will keep me from winning this election is the inability or failure to let people know they have a choice.”

Toledano said Republicans have misled voters by proclaiming their allegiance to law and order, but not being willing to pay for badly needed jails, police officers and courts.

“The contempt for law and order is vastly greater now than it was 10 years ago,” Toledano said. “We have to face the facts: Are you going to pay . . . or are your kids going to pay?”

Frizzelle, though, said he, too, is concerned about the state’s growing indebtedness, and, while he opposes higher taxes, would prefer to see them put to the voters rather than bond issues.

“I’m trying to bring some realistic understanding to our constituents regarding what the cost of government is getting to be,” Frizzelle said. The recent slew of new bond issues and authorizations “will cost us jobs in big numbers. . . . The public doesn’t understand the cumulative impact on the economy.”

Republicans hold a 56% to 36% lead in registration in the 69th District; nevertheless, Frizzelle said he is taking Toledano’s challenge “with the utmost seriousness.”

The two candidates are tentatively scheduled to debate at UC Irvine on Oct. 9.

In the 70th District, Assemblyman Gil Ferguson (R-Newport Beach) is facing former county Democratic Party chairman Howard Adler. Ferguson easily survived a primary challenge from Phyllis Badham, daughter of former Rep. Robert Badham. Adler is not mounting an expensive campaign--his campaign, for the most part, will consist of slate mailers from himself and other Democratic candidates--and does not figure to create too many problems for Ferguson.

A second political science instructor is running in the 71st Assembly District. Democrat Peter Mathews, who teaches government classes at Cypress College, is trying to unseat Assemblywoman Doris Allen (R-Cypress). The registration numbers are a little better for Mathews than they are in other districts: Republicans hold only a 49% to 41% edge.

Still, Mathews faces an uphill battle against Allen, the sponsor of one environmental measure, an initiative to ban gill net fishing, that even Mathews supports. He said he hopes to win over voters on education and environmental issues.

“There is a lack of leadership at the state level,” Mathews said. “My issues are bipartisan enough to draw voters from both sides.”

In southernmost Orange County, Assemblyman Robert C. Frazee (R-Carlsbad) in the 74th District faces three opponents, but none of them has mounted visible campaigns as yet. The challengers are Democrat Gerald Franklin, Libertarian Mark Hunt and Peace and Freedom Party member Mary Rico-Webber.

Only one of Orange County’s five state Senate seats is up for grabs this year. Incumbent Edward R. Royce (R-Anaheim) is being challenged for his 32nd District seat by Democrat Evelyn Colon Becktell, coordinator of a senior citizens’ center in Santa Ana. ASSEMBLY DISTRICTS

58th District Long Beach and Signal Hill in Los Angeles County, Seal Beach, Sunset Beach and Huntington Beach.

Luanne A. Pryor

Party: Democratic.

Age: 61.

Occupation: Public relations executive.

Background: Owns a public relations firm in Long Beach; ran for mayor of Long Beach in 1988; master’s degree in administration, planning and social policy from Harvard University.

Issues: Supports abortion rights; supports the death penalty but would consider changes in law if crime decreases significantly; opposes offshore oil drilling; opposes malathion spraying; supports the Big Green initiative; supports stricter gun control laws; opposes expansion of the Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station; would support increased taxes for education.

Thomas J. Mays

Party: Republican.

Age: 36.

Occupation: Huntington Beach mayor, staff manager at McDonnell Douglas Corp.

Background: Elected to Huntington Beach City Council in 1986; has worked in strategic planning and market research at McDonnell Douglas Corp. since 1978.

Issues: Opposes abortion rights under most circumstances; supports the death penalty; opposes offshore oil drilling; opposes malathion spraying in urban areas; opposes stricter gun-control laws; opposes expansion of the Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station; opposes increased taxes to resolve state budget crisis; instead, favors cutting or restructuring existing state programs.

Scott Stier

Party: Libertarian; Age: 26; Occupation: Businessman; Background: DID NOT RESPOND TO REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION

64th District Fullerton, Brea, La Habra, Placentia and Anaheim.

Ross Johnson

Party: Republican.

Age: 50.

Occupation: State Assembly member.

Background: Elected to Assembly in 1976. Assembly minority leader; graduate of Western State University law school.

Issues: Opposes abortion rights under most circumstances; supports the death penalty; supports legislative and campaign reforms, including reducing legislative spending and limiting the number of bills; supports malathion spraying; opposes increased taxes to reduce state deficit.

Kevin Gardner

Party: Democratic.

Age: 39.

Occupation: Director of Amco Corp. West Coast distribution center

Background: First campaign for public office. Has been active in Democratic Party campaigns, is an alternate member of county party Central Committee.

Issues: Supports abortion rights and public funding of abortions for low-income women; opposes the death penalty; opposes offshore oil drilling; supports a ban on malathion spraying unless it is conclusively determined to be safe; calls for a shift in emphasis from building more prisons to spending more money on education.

67th District Tustin, Yorba Linda, Villa Park, Orange, Anaheim, Santa Ana and the rural canyons.

John R. Lewis

Party: Republican.

Age: 35.

Occupation: State Assembly member.

Background: Elected to Assembly in 1980; has been one of Republican Party’s chief elections strategists; graduate of USC.

Issues: Opposes abortion rights; supports the death penalty; would consider increased offshore oil drilling if environmentally sound; opposes new taxes and any weakening of Proposition 13 and the Gann Initiative.

Fred Smoller

Party: Democratic.

Age: 35.

Occupation: Political science professor.

Background: Professor of political science at Chapman College since 1983. Ph.D from Indiana University. Led community effort to raise money and save college day-care center.

Issues: Supports abortion rights and government-funded abortions for low-income women; opposes the death penalty; would consider additional offshore oil drilling if tougher environmental regulations are imposed; would increase state spending on education; undecided on increasing state taxes to reduce the deficit.

69th District Irvine, Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach, Fountain Valley, Westminster and Santa Ana.

Nolan Frizzelle

Party: Republican.

Age: 68.

Occupation: State Assembly member.

Background: Elected to the Assembly in 1980; doctorate in optometry from Southern California College of Optometry.

Issues: Opposes abortion rights; supports the death penalty; favors exploratory drilling to determine the grade and quantity of oil reserves at least 12 miles offshore; opposes the state’s increasing indebtedness in the form of new bond issues; opposes new taxes without approval of the electorate; supports malathion spraying but favors using stronger pesticides.

James Toledano

Party: Democratic.

Age: 46.

Occupation: Attorney.

Background: Former Regent of the University of California representing alumni; former chair of Democratic Associates; has been active in Democratic campaigns; graduate of Boalt Hall Law School.

Issues: Supports abortion rights and public funding of abortions for low-income women; opposes the death penalty; opposes increased offshore oil drilling; opposes malathion spraying unless its safety can be demonstrated; supports increased funding for education; favors publicly funded campaigns; favors reducing property taxes and restructuring state income taxes, with higher rates for high-income earners.

70th District Costa Mesa, Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, Dana Point, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Mission Viejo, San Juan Capistrano and El Toro.

Gil Ferguson

Party: Republican.

Age: 67.

Occupation: State Assembly member.

Background: Elected to the Assembly in 1984. Former U.S. Marine officer. Fought in World War II, Korea and Vietnam. Served as chairman of FreePAC, a political action committee devoted to free market economics. Owns an advertising and public relations agency.

Issues: Opposes abortion rights; favors the death penalty; opposes the Big Green initiative; opposes increased offshore oil drilling; supports limiting legislative terms and making campaign libel a crime; opposes recent property tax increases for Orange County cable television companies.

Howard Adler

Party: Democratic.

Age: 47.

Occupation: Business owner, developer.

Background: Former chairman of the Orange County Democratic Party.

Issues: Supports abortion rights; supports the death penalty; opposes increased offshore oil drilling; supports the Big Green initiative; supports increased spending on law enforcement; supports a restructuring of property taxes; supports tax increases if tied to health care, education or transportation spending.

71st District Westminster, Garden Grove, Los Alamitos, Cypress, La Palma, Buena Park and Anaheim.

Doris Allen

Party: Republican

Age: 54

Occupation: State Assembly member

Background: Elected to the Assembly in 1982. Previously served five years on the Huntington Beach High School District Board of Trustees. Worked as licensed real estate broker.

Issues: Opposes abortion rights; favors the death penalty; supports a ban on honorariums for legislators; opposes increased offshore oil drilling; supports a ban on local gill-net fishing; opposes malathion spraying without further study; believes it is too early to recommend new taxes to reduce deficit.

Peter Mathews

Party: Democratic

Age: 38

Occupation: Professor of government, Cypress College

Background: Four years at Cypress College and six years teaching in the Los Angeles Community College District. Served on North Fair Oaks Advisory Council in San Mateo County.

Issues: Supports abortion rights and public funding for low-income women seeking abortions; opposes the death penalty; favors a ban on additional offshore oil wells; supports a permanent ban on aerial malathion spraying; supports a tax increase for businesses and individuals earning more than $200,000 a year to help reduce the state deficit.

74th District San Clemente, part of northern San Diego County.

Robert C. Frazee

Party: Republican

Age: 62

Occupation: State Assembly member

Background: Elected to Assembly in 1978. Former U.S. Marine. Former Carlsbad City Council member and mayor. Chairman, Assembly Republican Caucus.

Issues: Opposes abortion on demand but would not support an outright ban on abortion at this time; supports the death penalty; opposes increased offshore oil drilling but would consider it if circumstances dictate its necessity; supports malathion spraying in Medfly-infested areas; opposes tax increases to reduce the state deficit.

Gerald Franklin

Party: Democratic

Occupation: Government teacher

DID NOT RESPOND TO REQUESTS FOR INTERVIEWS

Mark Hunt

(Photo not available) Party: Libertarian

Age: 43

Occupation: Computer systems designer

Background: Joined the Libertarian Party about six years ago. This is his first campaign for public office.

Issues: Supports abortion rights; supports the death penalty; opposes increased taxes and favors a reduction in many state spending programs; favors a limitation on legislative terms.

Mary Rico-Webber

Party: Peace & Freedom

Occupation: Bilingual instructional aide

DID NOT RESPOND TO REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION

32ND STATE SENATE DISTRICT

Santa Ana, Garden Grove, Stanton, Anaheim, Fullerton and La Habra.

Edward R. Royce

Party: Republican

Age: 38

Occupation: State senator

Background: Elected to the state Senate in 1982. Previously, was tax manager for a cement company.

Issues: Opposes abortion rights; supports the death penalty; opposes increased offshore oil drilling; supports a ban on honorariums for legislators; opposes repeated use of malathion spraying and instead co-authored a bill to fund increased production of sterile flies; opposes a tax increase to pay for state deficit.

Evelyn Colon Becktell

Party: Democratic

Age: 53

Occupation: Santa Ana senior center coordinator

Background: Has worked for City of Santa Ana for five years at the senior center and at Corbin Center. Former marketing director for Spanish Promotion Network in Laguna Beach.

Issues: Supports abortion rights and public funding for low-income women seeking abortions; opposes the death penalty; favors a ban on additional offshore oil drilling and the elimination of existing wells; supports some form of publicly funded campaigns; supports permanent ban on aerial malathion spraying; undecided on a tax increase to reduce the state deficit.