In Orange County Honorarium Sweepstakes, Dornan Takes 1st Place : Disclosures: The congressman led the delegation with more than $21,000 in speaking fees. Dannemeyer reported investment earnings of more than $90,000.

Orange County’s most loquacious congressman, Rep. Robert K. Dornan (R-Garden Grove), is the latest winner of the local congressional honorariums derby, according to federal financial disclosure statements released Friday.

In 1990, the last year that the House of Representatives permitted members to accept outside speaking fees, Dornan snapped up more than $21,000, from hosts ranging from Phil Donahue to the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick. Rep. Ron Packard (R-Carlsbad), who also represents southern Orange County, finished second among the county’s five representatives, with a total of $20,300.

But their honorarium totals pale in comparison to the income Rep. William E. Dannemeyer (R-Fullerton) earned on real estate investments and bank deposits. Dannemeyer, by far the wealthiest of Orange County congressmen, reported outside income of between $90,000 and $230,000 from two bank accounts, an apartment complex, a professional building and an office development.

Those sums are in addition to the $96,600 salary representatives were paid for 1990. (Their salaries increased in 1991 to $125,100 under provisions of a pay-raise and ethics-reform package that, among other things, prohibits the acceptance of honorariums starting this year.)

Dannemeyer, who is a lawyer, pegged the value of his bank accounts and properties at a minimum of $2.1 million, minus loans and mortgages totaling between $215,000 and $500,000. The actual value of the properties, however, could be much higher. The financial disclosure reports members of Congress are required to file each year report only broad categories of income and asset value. For example, Dannemeyer listed the value of his 18-unit apartment building as simply “more than $1 million.”

Dornan’s fiery rhetoric and exuberant style make him much in demand as a speaker. In addition to appearing before such groups as the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors in Tacoma, Wash., the Tarrant County Republican Party in Fort Worth and a number of anti-abortion organizations, he twice was the guest host for conservative humorist Rush Limbaugh’s nationally syndicated radio talk show. He was paid $400 per three-hour show. He also was paid $569 for an appearance on the Donahue show last Nov. 11.

Dornan reported no outside investments.

Packard, a dentist by profession, received honorariums from groups that include the American Medical Assn., Rockwell International, Arco, the Assn. of American Railroads and Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc. Packard is a senior member of the House Public Works Committee and of the Committee on Space, Science and Technology.

Packard listed the value of his investments--which include bank stock, real estate, diamonds and a coin collection--as being between $82,000 and $230,000, but he declared that he received no income from them in 1990. He did, however, list two stock losses--one of which resulted from federal regulators’ seizure of Rancho Bernardo Savings Bank in San Diego County last October. Packard was a member of its board of directors. He resigned the position two days before the Resolution Trust Corp. took over the savings bank.

Packard also listed a loss of between $50,000 and $100,000 from the termination of a partnership called Pacific Pepper Tree. The transaction was not explained further, and Packard was not immediately available for comment.

Dannemeyer reported honorarium income of $4,950, from groups that include the Carpet and Rug Institute, the California Cable Television Assn. and the American Farm Bureau. In addition, Dannemeyer, Dornan, Packard and Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Long Beach) each received $250 from the Los Angeles Times for commentaries the newspaper published.

Rohrabacher, who represents northwestern Orange County, reported total honorarium receipts of $3,250. In addition to The Times’ payment, Rohrabacher received fees from Laffer & Associates, an economic consulting firm, and from the Employee Stock Ownership Plan Assn. Rohrabacher listed assets of between $3,000 and $45,000, and outside investment income of between $600 and $2,000.

Rep. Christopher Cox (R-Newport Beach) has made it a policy not to accept honorariums. He reported outside investment income of between $6,200 and $18,500, and assets valued at between $52,000 and $130,000. Cox said he has debts totaling between $30,000 and $100,000.

O.C. Congressmen Honorariums in 1990

Member Amount Rep. Robert K. Dornan (R-Garden Grove) $21,000 Rep. Ron Packard (R-Carlsbad) $20,300 Rep. William E. Dannemeyer (R-Fullerton) $4,950 Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Long Beach) $3,250 Rep. Christopher Cox (R-Newport Beach) Does not accept honorariums.

Source: Federal financial disclosure statements