CAMPAIGN NOTEBOOK : Cathie Wright Takes Win in Stride and in Song

On a night of computer breakdowns and torturously late election returns, state Assemblywoman Cathie Wright was one happy exception to the bevy of nail-biting candidates.

Confident of success in her low-profile campaign, Wright spent the evening feting fellow Republicans in proper style--hopping her way through Ventura and Los Angeles counties in a sleek, dark blue limousine.

Keeping tabs on election results via color TV and mobile phone, the velveteen-clad, Dr Pepper-swigging Wright stopped in at several GOP parties, capping off the night in Burbank with an a cappella rendition of “God Bless America” for her longtime friend and newly elected Assemblywoman Paula Boland.

Boland’s eyes brimmed with tears as Wright sang and “it was kind of an emotional moment for all of us,” said John Theiss, Wright’s administrative aide.

“That’s one of Paula’s favorite songs, I do believe, and for Cathie to sing it to her was a real special moment,” Theiss said. Afterward, he said, the entire group of well-wishers at the Burbank Hilton sang “We Are the Champions.”

Boland and Wright, both winners in the Republican-dominated 38th and 37th Assembly Districts, hugged each other and watched the midnight returns together.

Real estate broker Boland, who had not acknowledged her victory over Democratic teacher Irene Allert until 10% of the vote came in, finally made it official. And Wright, who campaigned heavily for Boland, “was right there to show her support and welcome her” to Sacramento, Theiss said.

One singer who didn’t make Boland’s celebration was Gladys Knight, whom Boland described as a friend from real estate transactions. Boland said she had expected the entertainer to attend.

Losers found solace in small and unexpected places Tuesday night.

For Allert, a political novice from Kagel Canyon who achieved an impressive showing against the well-connected Boland, it came in a bottle of Shalimar perfume.

A gift from her friend Sharon Molander, the heady scent evoked more innocent, less complicated times together at Immaculate Heart College. Even then, Molander said, other women turned to Allert for leadership and support.

“She was one person who didn’t fall apart in a crisis,” said Molander, who joined about 150 Allert supporters, many of them nurses and teachers, at a cozy Granada Hills house.

While the scent of Shalimar wafted through Allert’s party, cosmetics were apparent at Jim Salomon’s gathering in Beverly Hills.

Trade consultant Salomon, who lost the 23rd Congressional District race for the second time to incumbent Anthony C. Beilenson, said later he had too little time to remove the slightly orange makeup before greeting supporters. Still, the Woodland Hills resident reveled in a glowing endorsement from the Malibu Times.

The weekly newspaper endorsed eight candidates--Salomon the only Republican among them. He read the endorsement, which called him bright and eager, to supporters because he felt his presence alongside seven Democrats “was particularly noteworthy.”

A healthy sense of realism and a practical spouse served Democrat Richard Freiman well.

The Agoura Hills attorney and TV writer may have lost the 21st Congressional race to incumbent Elton Gallegly, a Republican institution from Simi Valley. But at least he had reservations lined up for a weekend in Las Vegas.

Freiman’s wife, Leslie, said that even though “we really don’t like to gamble,” she planned the trip months ago “so we don’t sit around feeling depressed” about the election.

Staff writers Tracey Kaplan, Amy Kazmin and Christopher Pummer contributed to this story.