CALIFORNIA ELECTIONS THE LEGISLATURE : Angry Voters May Send Incumbents a Lot of Political Ill Will

Resentment toward the Legislature, fed by the continuing investigation of political corruption at the state Capitol, is casting a shadow over the reelection chances of incumbents.

“The anti-incumbent feeling is pretty strong out there,” said veteran Democratic campaign strategist David Townsend. “The polling shows the public sentiment toward throwing the rascals out probably is greater than I have ever seen it.”

Traditionally, the anti-incumbent theme of “time for a change” has been a mainstay of challengers. But public opinion polls this election season suggest there is a newly inflamed resentment of the Legislature as an institution.

The Los Angeles Times Poll reported in January that 53% of California’s voters it had surveyed believed bribe-taking in Sacramento was a relatively common practice. By a margin of 2 to 1, they also thought that most legislators were for sale to fat cat contributors.

Playing into the mix of distrust and suspicion are the recent political corruption convictions of former Sens. Joseph B. Montoya (D-Whittier) and Paul Carpenter (D-Norwalk). Montoya is behind bars, Carpenter is awaiting sentencing and more indictments are expected.

“Two indictments, two convictions, and one person already in prison, that’s pretty heavy stuff,” said Townsend.

The Legislature, together with Gov. George Deukmejian, stoked the anti-incumbency coals last summer by going into a state of paralysis during budget negotiations. They failed to enact a state spending plan until one month into the new fiscal year.

However, incumbents still can count on protection, thanks largely to legislative districts carved out to their advantage during reapportionment 10 years ago--and to an abundance of money.

A new analysis by Common Cause demonstrates that despite anger at the Legislature, incumbents in the last two years of this election cycle have overwhelmed challengers almost 6 to 1 in collecting campaign funds--$12 million to $2.4 million.

“Voters may want to throw the bums out, but incumbents in California are protected by a wall of political money that makes them almost invincible,” said Common Cause spokeswoman Lisa Foster.

Democrats control the Assembly by a margin of 45 seats to 32 seats, with three seats vacant. The Senate has 24 Democrats, 14 Republicans, one independent and a vacancy.

All 80 Assembly seats and 21 of the 40 state Senate slots are up for election. Included are nine open seats whose occupants are seeking higher office, retiring or have died.

Senate President Pro Tem David A. Roberti (D-Los Angeles) conceded that in this especially ticklish election season, legislative incumbents risk defeat if they fail to pay close attention to constituents.

Assembly Speaker Willie Brown (D-San Francisco) said he does not believe Democratic incumbents will be defeated on Nov. 6, despite public opinion polls reflecting an anti-incumbency voter attitude.

“I don’t think there are any Assembly Democrats who are at serious risk of losing their seats,” the Speaker said. “I’m certainly not worried about the reelection of any of the Democratic members of my house.”

But Brown said: “I think the people are upset with government--not just the Legislature. And they may be upset with the Legislature--but not their own individual legislator.”

In a survey of voters last month, The Los Angeles Times Poll found that only 24% approved of the Legislature’s job performance, 48% disapproved and 28% were undecided. Still, the poll showed that when it comes to reelecting their own Assembly member, 46% of Californians answered affirmatively, 17% in the negative and 37% were not sure.

While the Legislature as an institution was held in low regard by voters, its best known member, Assembly Speaker Brown, drew slightly higher marks. The poll found him with a favorable rating of 31%, with 39% unfavorable and 30% undecided.

Up and down California, some legislative challengers--and at least one incumbent--are seizing on the anti-incumbency mood.

“People are tired of the corrupt attitude and lack of ethics in the state Capitol,” said Democratic Assembly candidate Lon S. Hatamiya, who describes himself as a Marysville farmer-businessman. “People ask me if I have ever held public office. I say, no. They say, ‘You have my vote.’ They don’t even ask if I am a Republican or Democrat.”

Hatamiya’s opponent, Assemblyman Chris Chandler (R-Yuba City) replied: “My opponent is a former Capitol lobbyist on a leave of absence whose firm lobbies for Southern California water interests. He is a prime example of a Sacramento insider who wants to move back to the district and try to fool the people. It won’t work.”

In Sacramento, another Democratic challenger, Joe Buonaiuto, announced his Assembly candidacy by proclaiming from the state Capitol steps: “This is the biggest little whorehouse in California. . . . We ought to clean out the Capitol, not with a broom but with a shovel.”

Another ingredient of the anti-incumbency attitude is the appearance of two initiatives on the Nov. 6 ballot that would limit the terms of legislators and statewide elected officials. Polls show substantial voter support for both Propositions 131 and 140.

Term limits, the outspoken Buonaiuto claims, would break down “the increasing arrogance of power, break up the cozy relationships that long-term incumbents have with special interests and . . . force incumbents back out into the real world to live with the laws they make.”

His opponent, Assemblyman Tim Leslie (R-Carmichael), concedes that voters in general are “concerned about the Legislature, but are satisfied with their own legislator. . . . My opponent can say that Joe Montoya went to jail but he can’t tie that to me, so I don’t think it sells.”

At the other end of the state, freshman Assemblyman Curt Pringle (R-Garden Grove), who is facing Assistant U.S. Atty. Tom Umberg, a Democrat, in a tight race, also has broken ranks with fellow legislators and endorsed term limits.

Pringle, who narrowly won two years ago, charges that the Legislature is full of “professional politicians” who have “no real world experience” and have become dependent on special interests for reelection money because they “have no jobs to go to after they leave the Legislature.”

Some advocates of term limits see a nationwide revolt against incumbents starting at statehouses and sweeping to Capitol Hill. Oklahoma voters recently enacted term limits for legislators and Colorado is scheduled to vote on limits on Nov. 6.

Veteran Democratic campaign consultant, Richie Ross, believes some comfortable incumbents in California could lose their seats, particularly if they are complacent about campaigning and believe their incumbency alone will return them to Sacramento.

“And they will be upsets in a genuine sense,” Ross said. “The guys who could be in trouble this time are those who just try to cruise on their incumbency and don’t campaign. Both parties are busy looking for people who are asleep at the switch.”

Not all campaign consultants agree that term limits and an anti-incumbency attitude spell trouble for incumbents.

“I don’t think term limits will be a factor,” said one Democratic Assembly staff tactician. “I do think there is less benefit (of the doubt for) incumbents this year than in the past. If the alternative to an incumbent looks attractive, the incumbent could have a problem. If the alternative does not look attractive, there is no problem.”

KEY LEGISLATIVE RACES Amid an atmosphere of rising frustration with elected officials, these are among the legislative races being watched in the Nov. 6 elections.

ASSEMBLY

District 63: Freshman Assemblyman Bob Epple (D-Norwalk) faces a challenge from Republican Diane P. Boggs, a Downey city councilwoman. Epple edged incumbent Wayne Grisham (R-Norwalk), a former congressman, by 200 votes in 1988. In this blue-collar district of Southeast Los Angeles, voters often cross party lines.

District 78: Assemblyman Jeff Marston (R-San Diego), who won a special election last June. Democratic strategists believe their challenger, Mike Gotch, a former San Diego city councilman, should have defeated Marston in the special election and can do it this time. Gotch is believed having difficulty raising money.

District 7: Veteran Assemblyman Norm Waters (D-Plymouth) is in his second nip-and-tuck contest with Republican David Knowles, a Sacramento businessman. Waters defeated Knowles by only 1,400 votes two years ago. The Republican hasn’t quit campaigning since. Supporters of Knowles are sprinkling the Sierra foothill district with bumper stickers that say “Norm Waters (red heart) Willie Brown.”

District 24: Assemblyman Dominic Cortese (D-San Jose), facing a misdemeanor charge of accepting an illegal campaign gift of a free house painting job from a lobbyist, is opposed by Republican Ronald Granada of San Jose, who also carries unhelpful baggage. Granada recently disclosed that as a young man he abandoned his wife and infant child, declared bankruptcy and had not voted in eight of the last 10 elections.

SENATE

District 34: Sen. Ruben Ayala (D-Chino), first elected in 1974, is locked in his toughest reelection fight against challenger Assemblyman Charles Bader (R-Pomona). Bader has been campaigning for the Senate for two years and is well-financed in a swiftly growing district that has become home to thousands of newcomers seeking affordable housing. Ayala is the GOP’s No. 1 target in the Senate.

District 4: Sen. James W. Nielsen (R-Rohnert Park), who is opposed by Democrat Mike Thompson, a legislative aide, finds himself in a seriously contested race for the first time in years. Thompson, wounded in the Vietnam War, has raised impressive sums of money and mounted an aggressive campaign against the former Senate Republican floor leader.

District 16: Sen. Don Rogers (R-Bakersfield), one of the Legislature’s most conservative members, is the target of a political comeback attempt by former Assemblyman Ray Gonzales (D-Bakersfield). Rogers is known for staying in touch with his district, which includes a piece of Pasadena. Gonzales has endorsed limits on legislative terms.