ANAHEIM : Committee Backs 2 Council Candidates

In its first political endorsement, the Anaheim Chamber of Commerce Political Action Committee announced support of two candidates, Frank Feldhaus and Bob Simpson, for the upcoming City Council election.

Though three seats and the mayor’s seat are open in the Nov. 6 race, the committee decided to back only two candidates and no one for the mayor’s post.

“We’re not real happy with either one,” said Donald E. Natenstedt, chairman of the group’s board of trustees, about Mayor Fred Hunter and Councilman Irv Pickler, who are both running for mayor. “We may endorse a candidate for mayor later on, but I’m not sure.”

The two who won endorsement for council seats were selected last week after each of the seven candidates were given questionnaires and a chance to appear before the committee’s board of trustees to further explain their views.

The main issues of interest to the chamber were the recently increased business license tax, a proposal for rent control in mobile home parks and the continued economic development of the city’s automobile dealerships.

Natenstedt said Simpson and Feldhaus gave the most “impressive” responses to those concerns, saying they “spoke their minds,” even though their responses may not have been exactly the answers the committee was seeking.

In general, both candidates favor revising the business license tax and assisting city car dealers, and both oppose rent stabilization.

The committee was formed in January and has about 300 members. The group raised nearly $8,000 between January and June.