Top Bush Aide Says He Prefers San Diego for GOP Convention

White House Chief of Staff John Sununu wants the 1992 Republican National Convention to take place in San Diego.

Sununu’s confirmation that he has made the recommendation to President Bush came Thursday, the same day officials from Houston were in Washington to push that city’s bid for the national gathering to GOP officials.

“I will not deny that I indicated a preference for San Diego,” Sununu said. “I just felt that--to be very blunt about it--with the presidential race and two Senate races in California in 1992, there’s a good reason for the Republican Party to be extremely visible during that period of time in California.”

Sununu told reporters that Bush has not made a final decision on the matter, but that San Diego also is favored by other top Administration officials.

The Republican National Committee’s site selection panel is expected to announce its recommendation Jan. 24.

In addition to Houston and San Diego, New Orleans still is under consideration as a convention host.

Bill Harris, director of the GOP site selection committee, said all three cities still are in the running. Asked about Sununu’s comments, he said, “Everyone has a right to express their own opinion.”

The timing of Sununu’s statements angered some Houston representatives.

“At the same time, we’re having about a seven-hour meeting with the (site selection) committee analyzing our proposal,” said Harris County Judge Jon Lindsay. “I think, hopefully, that it irritated the committee as much as it did us and, hopefully, it will have a reaction that might be beneficial to Harris County.

“I think we have a much better proposal than San Diego. Our facilities are extremely better, really a lot better, than what they’ve got to offer in San Diego, and we just have a better proposal.”

Houston city, political, business and civic leaders have pledged to raise at least $10.6 million to help host the event, which would be held in the Astrodome on Aug. 17-20.

Houston also is prepared to offer non-cash contributions for services, such as security and busing of delegates.

But the Republicans apparently are concerned about having only 21 days access time to the Astrodome to prepare the stadium for the gathering. The convention occurs during the baseball season, and the Astrodome is the home field for the Houston Astros.

“They’d like to have more (time),” Lindsay said. “We know we can do it in that time frame.

“If we’re getting a fair hearing from the committee, which I think we are, I think we’re right in the middle of the fight.”