CALIFORNIA ASSEMBLY ELECTION / 67TH DISTRICT : Conservatism Is the Password for GOP Hopefuls

Forget liberal. As the campaign for Tuesday’s special state Assembly election shows clearly, the dirty word in Orange County politics is moderate.

“Everybody runs in Orange County as a conservative Republican,” said Mickey R. Conroy, a GOP front-runner in the race against Republican William G. Steiner and five other candidates seeking to replace former state Assemblyman John R. Lewis (R-Orange) in the 67th District.

“You’ve seen a struggle between Conroy and Steiner about who is more anti-tax and who is more conservative,” said Steiner, a city councilman in Orange. “I’m hoping the voters will be able to sort through all that.”

It’s a messy pile to sort through, but those who do will find that front-runners Steiner and Conroy are strikingly different candidates. The mail to voters and the public statements have been similar in issues and tough talk, but the candidates’ motivations for seeking public office spring from vastly different philosophies.

Steiner, 54, comes to government full of ideas about how public policy can make life better for the abused and neglected children that he has served throughout his 31-year career, most recently working as director of the Orangewood Children’s Foundation since 1986.

“I’ve seen a lot of tragedy in connection with Orangewood. Sometimes you feel like you are shoveling sand upstream because the problems are so enormous,” Steiner said. “But in the last few years, I have found a lot that can be achieved for children from a political perspective. That’s really the essence of my candidacy.”

Conroy, on the other hand, proclaims government to be the enemy. He said his top priority as a legislator would be to launch a search-and-destroy committee of elected officials to ferret out government waste. He believes service in the Legislature should be a part-time job.

And even on issues like the environment, Conroy says the problems should be corrected without government involvement.

“Remember Valdez (Alaska)? What happened?” he asks. “Nature cures itself. We’re bringing our economy to its knees over people who think we should live in a risk-free society.”

Tuesday’s special election is part of a series of Orange County campaigns sparked by Gov. Pete Wilson’s decision in January to appoint former Anaheim state Sen. John Seymour to the U.S. Senate.

Lewis was elected last May to fill Seymour’s seat in the state Senate, triggering the current special election to fill Lewis’ seat in the Assembly.

The 67th Assembly District is the second-most Republican in California and it includes all or most of the cities of Orange, Tustin, Silverado Canyon, El Toro and Santa Ana.

In addition to Steiner and Conroy, the field of candidates seeking the seat includes four other Republicans: Villa Park Councilman Harold H. Saldarini; former Tustin Councilman John Kelly; Tracy Gaffey, a college professor from Tustin and Bill Earl, a Tustin businessman. The sole Democrat in the race is Gregory Robert Ramsay, a health care manager from Santa Ana.

If nobody receives more than 50% of the vote in Tuesday’s election, Ramsay will face the top Republican vote-getter in a Sept. 17 runoff.

Steiner and Conroy have broken from the pack of candidates, largely based on their influential endorsements and their ability to raise money.

Steiner is backed by all of the mayors represented in the Assembly district and all five county supervisors. Conroy, 63, is supported by conservative Orange County leaders such as Assemblyman Gil Ferguson (R-Newport Beach) and Reps. Robert K. Dornan (R-Garden Grove) and William E. Dannemeyer (R-Fullerton).

But the rest of the candidates also represent a variety of political profiles. On abortion, three candidates support a woman’s right to have an abortion and four are opposed. There was a similar split on the issue of whether the state should adopt AB-101, a law to prohibit discrimination against homosexuals.

As in most special elections, voter turnout is expected to be extremely low Tuesday, probably less than 15% of the registered voters.

Tuesday’s Election

Voters in the 67th Assembly District go to the polls Tuesday to fill a vacant seat created when John R. Lewis was elected to the state Senate in May.

Seven candidates are running in the special election. If no one receives more than 50% of the vote, a runoff between the top vote-getters from each party will be held Sept. 17.

The Republican candidates are: Mickey R. Conroy, a GOP activist from Santa Ana; Orange Councilman William G. Steiner; former Tustin Councilman John Kelly; Villa Park Councilman Harold H. Saldarini; Tustin businessman Bill Earl, and Tustin educator Tracy Gaffey.

The lone Democrat is Gregory Robert Ramsay, a health care manager from Santa Ana.

The district is one of the most Republican in California. It stretches from Silverado Canyon in the east to Orange in the west and from Yorba Linda in the north to El Toro in the south.

Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.

For polling information, call the county registrar of voters office at (714) 567-7600.

67th Assembly District Candidates

There are six Republicans and one Democrat running in Tuesday’s special election for the 67th Assembly District seat.

Democrat

Gregory Robert Ramsay

Hometown: Santa Ana

Age: 33

Occupation: Health care manager for Admar Co. in Orange.

Background: Health care worker for six years, one year with Admar, which provides health care plans to employers; graduated from Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., in 1981. First run for elected office.

Issues: Supports a woman’s right to have an abortion; supports a waiting period for purchase of a gun and a ban on assault weapons; opposes sales tax increase in latest state budget, favors greater tax burden on wealthy; supports the death penalty and AB101, a proposed law to prohibit discrimination against homosexuals.

Republicans

Mickey R. Conroy

Hometown: Santa Ana

Age: 63

Occupation: Distribution manager for copy machine manufacturer.

Background: Retired in 1970 as Marine Corps major; executive director, Veterans Charities of Orange County; joined veterans charities board in 1986. Gained statewide prominence in early 1980s for demanding Santa Monica Democratic Assemblyman Tom Hayden’s dismissal from Legislature. First run for elected office.

Issues: Opposes a woman’s right to have an abortion; opposes a waiting period for purchase of a gun and the state’s ban on assault weapons; opposes tax increases in latest state budget; supports the death penalty and opposes AB101.

Bill Earl

Hometown: Tustin

Age: 37

Occupation: Construction company owner

Background: Worked with heavy equipment and grading companies for 15 years and is a licensed architect. First run for elected office.

Issues: Opposes a woman’s right to have an abortion; supports a waiting period before purchase of a handgun and a ban on the sale of assault weapons; would support recent state budget, with taxes; supports the death penalty and opposes AB101.

Harold H. Saldarini

Hometown: Villa Park

Age: 48

Occupation: Manufacturer of draperies and blinds.

Background: Drapery shop owner in Anaheim for 15 years; Villa Park councilman for three years.

Issues: Supports a woman’s right to have an abortion; opposes a waiting period before purchase of handguns but supports a ban on assault weapons; opposes tax increases in latest state budget; supports the death penalty and supports AB101.

William G. Steiner

Hometown: Orange

Age: 54

Occupation: Executive director, Orangewood Children’s Foundation.

Background: Director of the Orangewood home for abused and neglected children since 1986; has worked with child-care programs for about 30 years. City councilman in Orange since 1988.

Issues: Supports a woman’s right to have an abortion; supports a waiting period before purchase of a handgun and a ban on the sale of some assault weapons; opposes recent tax increases in state budget; supports the death penalty and opposes AB101.

Tracy Gaffey

Hometown: Tustin

Age: 66

Occupation: Education administration professor, Cal State Fullerton.

Background: Fullerton university professor for 20 years; previously served seven years as superintendent of Tustin schools. First run for elected office.

Issues: Opposes a woman’s right to have an abortion; supports a waiting period before purchase of a handgun and the state’s ban on assault weapons; supports tax increases in latest state budget; supports the death penalty and supports AB101.

John Kelly

Hometown: Tustin

Age: 29

Occupation: Retail businessman.

Background: Works with family businesses in Tustin, including stores for stationery, formal wear, hobbies and gifts; candidate for Tustin City Council five times, winning one 1986-90 term; candidate for Congress in 1988.

Issues: Opposes a woman’s right to have an abortion; opposes a waiting period before purchase of handguns and a ban on assault weapons; opposes tax increases in latest state budget; supports the death penalty and would abstain from vote on AB101.