CALIFORNIA ELECTIONS / LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR : Bergeson, McCarthy Clash in Debate Over Abortion

Lt. Gov. Leo T. McCarthy and challenger Marian Bergeson, in their final scheduled meeting before the Nov. 6 election, clashed Tuesday over abortion, the environment and McCarthy’s attendance at meetings of state boards and commissions.

Seizing the offensive during the hourlong radio debate, Democrat McCarthy repeatedly turned the discussion to the emotional issue of abortion, trying to contrast his support for abortion rights with the anti-abortion stance of his Republican rival, a state senator from Newport Beach.

McCarthy contended that Bergeson would seek to “criminalize” abortion and punish those who terminate their pregnancies. In reply, Bergeson said she would support penalties against doctors but not for women who obtain abortions.

“Abortion is a tragedy,” Bergeson said. “Women are the victims and deserve compassion and understanding. In no way have I supported or implied that abortion should be made criminal.”

McCarthy, first elected to the post in 1982, and Bergeson debated on Michael Jackson’s KABC radio talk show, fielding questions from the host and a handful of telephone callers.

During the broadcast, McCarthy also confronted Bergeson on her support for a 1985 proposed ballot measure that would have prohibited public funding for abortions except when the life of the mother was endangered by the pregnancy. But Bergeson said she now supports taxpayer funding of abortions for poor women who are victims of rape or incest.

Bergeson tried to turn the tables on McCarthy, reminding him that he had voted as an assemblyman to limit access to abortion. She charged that he had changed his position to enhance his chances for statewide office.

“Shame on you, Leo,” Bergeson said. “Political expediency has become the most important thing in your career.”

On other issues that arose:

Bergeson defended her record on environmental matters. She said she voted against the California Clean Air Act because it put too much of a burden on local government.

“I support the concept of clean air,” she said.

Bergeson accused McCarthy of neglecting his few official duties as lieutenant governor. She said that in 1988 he missed every meeting of the University of California Regents, the California State University Trustees and the state Economic Development Commission. He attended half of the meetings of the state Lands Commission.

“The lieutenant governor’s attendance has been abysmal,” she said. “You can’t do anything if you’re not there.”

McCarthy said he has attended the majority of the meetings during his eight years in office. He said he attends when important issues are considered and sends his staff to tend to the routine matters.

The candidates’ final debate took place as Bergeson began airing a mostly positive television commercial while at the same time stepping up her criticism of a campaign loan McCarthy received in 1988 from a savings and loan that later was seized by regulators.

The Bergeson ad, similar to one she used in the Republican primary, extols her record as a legislator and highlights her expertise on education issues. The ad is running on Southern California television stations this week.

In statements issued by her campaign, Bergeson has reiterated her criticism of a $300,000 loan McCarthy received in 1988 from the since-failed First Network Savings Bank. McCarthy was briefly delinquent on the loan but repaid it after news reports about it earlier this year.

Bergeson said loans such as the one to McCarthy were responsible for the thrift’s failure, which is expected to cost taxpayers about $100 million.

But in an interview, California Savings and Loan Commissioner William Davis said the state reviewed the loan when it took over the thrift and found nothing wrong with it. Davis said it was “totally inaccurate” to say that the loan contributed to the thrift’s insolvency.