COUNTYWIDE : Steiner to Run for Lewis’ Assembly Seat

Orange City Councilman William G. Steiner, chairman of the No on J campaign to defeat the recent countywide jail tax initiative, announced Monday that he will seek the Republican nomination for the 67th Assembly District seat.

Consistent with the No on J theme, Steiner pledged Monday to fight for lower taxes and more cost-effective government.

“The most important issue for the 67th Assembly District, as indicated by defeat of measure J,” Steiner said, “is no further increase of the tax burden. . . . (The) message that is being communicated is that enough is enough.”

Steiner, 54, sat on the Orange Unified School District board for five years and has been a city councilman since 1988, a position he would have to vacate if elected to the Assembly seat left vacant by Republican John R. Lewis. Lewis was elected last week to the state Senate.

The 67th Assembly District represents Anaheim Hills, Orange, Villa Park, Yorba Linda, Tustin and parts of Santa Ana.

Steiner is executive director of the Orangewood Children’s Foundation, a nonprofit organization that helps abused and neglected children. He has been recognized by Presidents Reagan and Bush for his service to children and by the National Coalition Against Pornography.

In October, he was the court-appointed guardian of the baby in a custody battle between a county married couple and a surrogate parent who wanted to keep the child she had contracted to have for them.

“I would really like to work very closely with the governor, primarily on children and family issues,” Steiner said. “It seems that his philosophy of prevention and strengthening family life would have a big payoff for the state in the future.”

Steiner, who has lived in the district for 23 years, said he would take a leave of absence from the foundation to campaign. He has been endorsed by all five members of the county Board of Supervisors and state Sen. Marian Bergeson (R-Newport Beach).

Steiner is the second person to announce his candidacy. Republican activist and former Marine Corps pilot Mickey Conroy announced April 13 that he will run.