ORANGE : Steiner May Seek Seymour’s Old Seat

City Councilman William G. Steiner announced Tuesday that he may seek the 35th Senate District seat vacated by U.S. Sen. John Seymour (R-Anaheim).

Steiner, a Republican, announced that he had formed an exploratory committee that will determine within 10 days whether he has enough support to run for the seat. Assembly members John R. Lewis (R-Orange), Doris Allen, (R-Cypress) and Nolan Frizzelle (R-Fountain Valley) and Dana Reed, chairman of the Orange County Transportation Commission, are among those who have already announced their candidacies.

Steiner said he has been encouraged to run by local elected officials, community activists, teachers, school board officials and others. He said his work on the City Council, the Orange Unified School District board and as director of the Orangewood Children’s Foundation has given him a “clear view” of the area’s needs.

“Someone needs to be elected who has not been part of the $7-billion state deficit,” Steiner said.

He was elected to a four-year city council term in the Nov. 6 election after a two-year appointment to the council in 1988 to fill a vacant seat. Steiner was also an elected board member of the Orange Unified School District from 1983 to 1987.

He is now director of the Orangewood Children’s Foundation, chairs a state advisory committee on child development programs and is a member of the board of directors for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in Washington.