ORANGE COUNTY VOICES : A Very Big Job Awaits Seymour’s Replacement in the State Senate

Gov. Pete Wilson’s appointment of state Sen. John Seymour as his replacement in the U.S. Senate gave Orange County a strong voice in Washington to help with the Santa Ana Flood Control Project, the formation of a new federal judicial district here, transportation projects and other important local needs. But Orange County also lost one of its most effective legislators in Sacramento, so the race to succeed Seymour in the state Senate is absolutely critical.

People often focus on federal politics and forget the importance of Sacramento to our daily lives. But most funding and other decisions for education, law enforcement, transportation, housing and other critical programs are made in the state Capitol.

According to the California Journal, our state’s premier independent political publication, only two of Orange County’s legislators--Seymour and Sen. Marian Bergeson (R-Newport Beach)--ranked among the more effective members of the Legislature in 1990. Clearly, we cannot afford an ineffective replacement in Seymour’s 35th Senate District.

Part of the reason for Seymour’s (and Wilson’s) success as a legislator is that he took office with years of local government experience under his belt. As a city councilman and mayor in Anaheim, Seymour not only understood the needs of his constituents, but also how local government operates. He learned the inner workings of government: identifying local needs, formulating solutions and locating the resources required to implement them.

Without question, voters should consider local government experience to be essential for legislators because it gives them the training and skill they need to balance budgets and solve problems.

So who replaces Seymour? Three declared candidates re among the members of the Orange County delegation to the state Assembly, although these three legislators have had more experience with blocking rather than carrying the ball on issues critical for Orange County. None has any local government experience. Nevertheless, each has the advantage of an existing support and fund-raising base in at least part of the district, as well as experience running for state office.

Although gerrymandering has resulted in state Senate and Assembly districts with almost no common boundaries, Nolan Frizzelle’s Assembly district overlaps the largest portion of the 35th Senate District. While certainly not decisive, this is a significant advantage for Frizzelle because more people have seen his name on the ballot (and voted for him) than for any other candidate in the race.

Two other declared candidates, Orange County Transportation Commission Chairman Dana Reed and Westminster Mayor Charles V. Smith, have the advantage of local government experience--particularly Reed, who can take credit (or blame) for the passage of Measure M in November, and who served as undersecretary of business, transportation and housing under Gov. George Deukmejian. But neither Reed nor Smith appears to have an existing political machine in place to compare with the three Assembly members.

Meanwhile, as other potential candidates for Seymour’s seat test the waters, there undoubtedly are scores of city council members and others considering a run for the vacated office of Seymour’s successor. If Reed wins, the Board of Supervisors will have to appoint a replacement on the Transportation Commission; and if a city council member wins, his or her council would appoint a replacement. So the game of musical chairs continues.

The bottom line? Orange County needs effective leadership in Sacramento. We need someone who will carry the ball over the goal line for us. Hopefully, whoever is elected to replace John Seymour will be able to serve Orange County with the same energy, intelligence, effectiveness and willingness to solve problems shown by our new U.S. senator.