Speculation Soars About Vasquez, the GOP Superman

Whither goest thou, Gaddi?

As the God-fearing son of an apostolic minister, Gaddi Vasquez understands that kind of talk.

And as a young politician who also carries the heavy mantle of “potential,” Vasquez also understands the question in plain old layman’s political language: Just where are you going, Gaddi?

For a lot of politicians, that question doesn’t even get asked, because nobody really cares. But Vasquez, about to begin a year as chairman of the County Board of Supervisors, makes for a little better copy: as a former cop and now a young, conservative Republican Latino with a polished public speaking background, Vasquez has vote-getting potential that could cut across numerous political lines. Campaign consultants tend to slobber over built-in traits like that, which is part of the reason that heavyweights such as Stu Spencer and Ken Khachigian were willing to help in his 1988 race for Orange County supervisor.

Spencer, who helped manage Dan Quayle’s vice presidential campaign, helped anoint Vasquez in 1988 by saying: “I don’t think he should stay a supervisor very long. There’s a lot more for him to do.”

Accordingly, Vasquez’s name bobbed to the surface again recently as the guessing game continued over who Gov. Pete Wilson would name to serve out his U.S. Senate term. When Wilson named state Sen. John Seymour, Vasquez’s name sank again, but it will be back.

Some Democrats were concerned about a Vasquez appointment. “No. 1, I think (appointing) Vasquez would have preempted any major primary opposition,” said former county Democratic Party Chairman John Hanna, “and No. 2, I was concerned about it for reasons about the message that it would have sent by Wilson--’We (the Republicans) are an open party, we practice what we preach.’ Wilson could have said, ‘We could have put a Latino in one of the top spots, and we did it.’ ”

Hanna said he assumes Vasquez “made the short list” of possible appointees but thinks the Republicans could have reaped a public relations bonanza with Vasquez from the national media.

Amin David, president of the Los Amigos civic and business group in Orange County, has known Vasquez for many years. While the group considers itself “progressive” politically and doesn’t consider Vasquez in step with its politics, David said he would support Vasquez for higher office.

But unlike others who think Vasquez is loaded with political pluses, David isn’t so sure.

“I think it would be a tremendous mountain to be climbed. My personal feeling is that I don’t think the dollars would be there for Gaddi, because while he’s well-known in Orange County, I’m not sure how known he is in L.A. and farther up north.”

A significant part of the political potential that surrounds Vasquez involves his ethnicity and his appeal to Latino voters. But while Vasquez doesn’t play that up, others see a pool of Latino voters waiting for an exciting candidate to rally around.

“We look to Gaddi as that guy who’s walking in new shoes in new fields,” David says, “and consequently, regardless of his conservative nature, the impact he will have on the whole Latino political philosophy and thinking would be tremendously advantageous.” But David says the notion of a Latino bloc of voters who would commit to a single candidate is largely mythical and that Vasquez needs much more statewide exposure before he can consider himself a serious candidate for major office.

Over breakfast Thursday, Vasquez was noncommittal and seemingly unfazed by the speculation concerning his political future. He has become used to his name being floated whenever candidate lists are compiled, but says he is content for now in local government.

Vasquez’s upcoming board chairmanship should make him more visible locally. He also says he plans to be a frequent visitor in Sacramento, carrying the county’s case when he can. Given the board’s frequent laments about its troubled financial state and the difficult choices that lie ahead, the chairmanship could give Vasquez the kind of platform he hasn’t had before.

“People say, ‘Where do you see yourself in 10 years?’ ” Vasquez said. “I always say that 10 years ago I was working the graveyard shift driving a patrol car in the Orange P.D.”

He won’t be 36 until later this month and won’t say whether he has plans to run for anything in 1992 other than a second full term as supervisor. Nor would he say whether he talked to Wilson about the senatorial appointment. Vasquez lives in the congressional district now represented by William Dannemeyer, who, the Times reported earlier this week, may surrender the seat next year to run against Seymour.

Vasquez has the kind of solid Republican credentials that would do well in such a congressional district, but even if he were to run for that seat and win, it still wouldn’t answer the question of whether he has the political horses to win a statewide race.

Since his high school days as an accomplished orator, expectations have always been high for Gaddi Vasquez. He’s also been a long-distance runner since his teen-age days.

One of these years we all may finally find out, once and for all, just how far he can run.

Dana Parsons’ column appears Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. Readers may reach Parsons by writing to him at The Times Orange County Edition, 1375 Sunflower Ave., Costa Mesa, Calif. 92626, or calling (714) 966-7821.