Fight Over Open Seat Turns Into Free-for-All : Politics: With incumbent running elsewhere, new 73rd Assembly District race matches eight Republicans, two counties in primary.

In this era of antipathy toward political insiders, the race for the 73rd Assembly District seat has presented candidates with a peculiar difficulty: There is no incumbent to pick on.

The fight for the 73rd District, which sprawls along the coast between southern Orange and northern San Diego counties, turned into a free-for-all after longtime Assemblyman Robert Frazee (R-Carlsbad) opted to run in another district just down the coast.

It’s emblematic of the wide-open political climate created by the reapportionment process, which has scrambled the political jigsaw puzzle such that nearly one of three Assembly districts in California is without an incumbent this year. The shake-up has also produced a record number of candidates in state races.

In the 73rd District, eight Republican candidates are vying for the nomination in the June 2 primary. But despite the crowded field, few teeth have been bared so far. With no incumbent to swarm, the candidates have simply tried to stake their territory on the issues.

Even on that front there aren’t many disagreements. At the top of the priority list for nearly all of the Republican candidates is the state’s budget crisis. They also want to keep business from fleeing California. Welfare reform is a biggie. Most promise to give the little guy a voice in how they govern. A majority would rather be considered problem solvers than politicians.

“I would say there is a rather low energy level to the contest so far,” said Thomas A. Fuentes, Orange County Republican Party chairman. “It’s been rather quiet, rather modest, rather devoid of noise.”

Among those who have hoisted themselves into the Republican ring are Dana Point Mayor Mike Eggers, Laguna Niguel Councilwoman Patricia C. Bates, Carlsbad Mayor Claude (Bud) Lewis and Oceanside Councilman Sam Williamson. Joining them are attorneys Bill Morrow of Oceanside and Carlos F. Negrete of San Juan Capistrano. Rounding out the field are Saddleback Community College Trustee Iris Swanson and Bill Jay, a math professor at the college.

Also on the ballot are three candidates who will get a free ride into the November election by virtue of running unopposed in their party primaries: Lee Walker, a Saddleback college professor, for the Democrats; Libertarian Paul H. King, an Oceanside tax consultant; and Paul A. Steele, a retired Costa Mesa furniture manufacturer on the Peace and Freedom Party ticket.

With the GOP holding nearly a 2-to-1 registration edge over Democrats in the district, the Republican candidate still standing after June 2 will be a heavy favorite in the November election.

So far, none of the candidates has raised much money. With the recession cutting back on campaign contributions, the closest thing to a political war chest is the $17,000 balance Bates reported two weeks ago. Eggers, meanwhile, had nearly $9,000 on hand at last report, while Negrete was more than $6,000 in debt.

The dearth of dollars hasn’t kept any of the Republicans from talking big. Most are hoping to spend upward of $150,000 between now and June. A campaign consultant for Morrow predicted it could take as much as $300,000 to win the primary.

While none of the contenders has ever run for a state political office, that hasn’t kept Sacramento’s political tentacles out of the race.

Morrow, for instance, is backed by an old college chum, influential state Sen. Frank Hill (R-Whittier), and has brought in the potent campaign consulting team of Russo Marsh Inc., best known as the firm that shuttled to the Soviet Union to run the successful pro-independence election campaign in Ukraine.

In an effort to spread the word about Morrow--a former Marine Corps prosecutor whose only full-time political experience was a short stint as a legislative aide in Sacramento in the late 1980s--the consulting firm has crafted a campaign tapping into conservative interest groups.

“I make no bones about it, I’m courting where I feel most comfortable, and that’s the conservative high ground,” Morrow said. “Ideology cuts across all bounds. Naturally, the people I’m after are gun advocates and Christian activists and pro-family groups.”

Bates is the favorite of Assemblyman Gil Ferguson (R-Newport Beach). Ferguson has endorsed the Laguna Niguel councilwoman, and his son, Mark Ferguson, is serving as Bates’ chief campaign consultant.

With her strong base as a councilwoman and leader of the Laguna Niguel cityhood movement of the late 1980s, Bates could prove formidable. She describes herself as a pro-business candidate who will push to cut the state budget while also looking out for the average citizen. She stresses her ability to work with people, be they Sacramento power brokers or local homeowners.

“I feel most passionately about getting good representation for the community,” she said. “People are saying they want someone who is listening to them, who is listening to their problems--the economy, jobs, education.”

Several candidates, meanwhile, say they believe Negrete will be the recipient of the largess of the California Trial Lawyers Assn., a wealthy lobbying group. Negrete rejects that notion, saying he fully expects to get contributions from attorneys but doesn’t anticipate “a huge block of last-minute money” from the statewide lawyers’ group.

Instead, Negrete has taken a stand as an anti-tax and anti-spending candidate. He wants to cut both.

“I have this thing against pickpocket politicians,” he said. “They’re picking our pockets dry. I feel there should be greater controls against government spending. And I believe our principal problem is the career politician, these consummate insiders. I’m certainly not one of those.”

While the shadow of Sacramento looms large over the race, a Republican often mentioned by fellow candidates as a top contender isn’t politically tied to the state Capitol, but rather to Washington: Dana Point Mayor Mike Eggers, the Orange County chief of staff for Rep. Ron Packard (R-Carlsbad).

“Certainly the front-runner position seems to have been staked out early by Mike Eggers, given his role as deputy to Congressman Packard, who is so highly esteemed in that area,” said Fuentes, the county GOP chairman.

For his part, Eggers boasts that he understands the issues better than any of his foes--and knows how to produce solutions.

“The whole philosophy of my campaign is I’m a problem solver, not an excuse maker,” Eggers said. “The others are accusing me of being the career politician. I’ve been a politician less time than Iris Swanson, less than Pat Bates, less than Buddy Lewis.”

Geography also promises to play a role in the outcome of the race.

The 73rd, newly created from parts of two other districts under reapportionment, stretches from Dana Point and Laguna Niguel on the north to Carlsbad on the south. In between is the massive Camp Pendleton Marine Corps base.

Candidates from San Diego County are mostly unknown north of the San Onofre checkpoint. Orange County contenders could fare equally poorly to the south.

If there is an edge on paper, it would seem to go to candidates in Orange County, which has 60% of the district’s voters. The numbers in the GOP primary are even more favorable--61% of the district’s electorate in southern Orange County is Republican compared to 51% in northern San Diego County.

That advantage has brought great glee to longtime residents of Orange County’s southern flank irked by decades of representation by San Diego County politicians. But it might not work as expected. The five Orange County candidates in the GOP primary could split the vote, opening the door for a strong candidate from the south.

Williamson and Lewis are banking on such a scenario.

Lewis, a retired schoolteacher and varsity coach, is running a low-budget campaign from his stronghold in Carlsbad, where he’s been on the council since he was elected in 1970 as part of a class civics project.

Among those walking the district with him will be 50 former students. His campaign is being managed by two leaders of the effort that sent Packard to Congress in his historic 1982 write-in victory.

Williamson, meanwhile, has been burning shoe leather to get his message out. Although he isn’t shy about hopes of raising $200,000 for his campaign, the veteran Oceanside councilman insists the handshake approach will also be key.

“My sales background doesn’t hurt me at all,” said Williamson, an insurance broker for three decades. “I’m willing to go knock on the door and listen to the dog growl. . . . I’ve been walking Orange County, and I’m finding they don’t know most of their candidates any better than they know me.”

Jay, a top administrator at Saddleback College, wants to boost the percentage of money spent in the classroom, noting that 50 cents of each dollar goes for administration at many community colleges. He also stresses that he holds no ties to anything political, and suggests he would inject new blood into the Assembly.

Swanson, who has been endorsed by Dana Point Councilwoman Eileen Krause and San Juan Capistrano Councilman Kenneth E. Friess, has prepared a “mission statement” for her campaign outlining broad goals such as stabilizing expenditures in Sacramento and directing a fair share of tax funds back to the 73rd district.

73rd Assembly District

Here are the candidates running for the 73rd Assembly District seat in the June 2 primary.

The Issues

The following were the questions asked each of the candidates:

Abortion Rights: Do you support or oppose abortion rights?

Education Vouchers: Do you support the proposed education initiative, which would provide parents with a $1,200 voucher they can use to send their children to the school of their choice, including a private institution?

Health Care Plan: Do you support the California Medical Assn.’s proposed health care initiative, requiring all employers to provide basic coverage for any employee working more than half-time?

Gay Rights: Do you support legislation similar to AB 101, prohibiting discrimination by employers against homosexuals?

Welfare Reform Plan: Do you support Gov. Pete Wilson’s proposed welfare reform plan, calling for a minimum 10% reduction in welfare grants, incentives to stay in school and lower payments for new state residents?

Gnatcatcher: Should the California gnatcatcher, a rare bird which nests in areas targeted for development, be designated as a state endangered species?

REPUBLICANS

Patricia C. Bates

Age: 52

Home: Laguna Niguel

Occupation: Councilwoman

Background:

Elected in 1989 during incorporation election. Helped spearhead Laguna Niguel cityhood movement. Social worker for a dozen years after college.

Issues: Abortion rights--opposes, except in cases of rape and incest. Education vouchers--opposes initiative because of fiscal flaws, but supports idea. Health care plan--opposes. Gay rights--opposes. Welfare plan--supports. Gnatcatcher--opposes.

Mike Eggers

Age: 44

Home: Dana Point

Occupation: Mayor; Orange County chief of staff for Rep. Ron Packard (R-Carlsbad); co-owns real estate newsletter firm.

Background:

Elected to City Council in 1988. Has been Packard aide for past decade. Worked 16 years as journalist.

Issues: Abortion rights--opposes. Education vouchers--opposes. Health care plan--opposes initiative, feels the plan would be better done through legislation. Gay rights--opposes. Welfare plan--supports. Gnatcatcher--opposes.

Bill Jay

Age: 56

Home: Dana Point

Occupation: Mathematics professor and small-business owner.

Background: Professor at Saddleback College for 18 years. Runs a storage business and shopping center in Riverside County. Has never run for elected office before.

Issues: Abortion rights--opposes, except in cases of rape or medical danger. Education vouchers--opposes. Health care plan--supports. Gay rights--supports. Welfare plan--supports. Gnatcatcher--opposes.

Claude (Bud) Lewis

Age: 61

Home: Carlsbad

Occupation: Mayor and runs painting contractor business.

Background: Retired schoolteacher. Elected to City Council in 1970 as part of civics class project.

Issues: Abortion rights--supports, but opposes public funding. Education vouchers--opposes. Health care plan--opposes. Gay rights--supports, except for schoolteachers and others involved with children. Welfare plan--supports. Gnatcatcher--opposes.

Bill Morrow

Age: 37

Home: Oceanside

Occupation: Attorney

Background: Marine Corps prosecutor, 1979-87. Began work as legislative assistant for the Assembly Republican Caucus. Later went into private practice.

Issues: Abortion rights--opposes, except in cases of rape, incest or medical danger. Education vouchers--supports. Health care plan--opposes, favors tax credit. Gay rights--opposes. Welfare plan--supports. Gnatcatcher--opposes.

Carlos F. Negrete

Age: 35

Home: San Juan Capistrano

Occupation:

Attorney

Background: Real estate agent for 10 years. Since 1988, has practiced civil litigation and real estate law. Ruffled San Juan Capistrano City Hall by filing a “taxpayer lawsuit” alleging city wasted $400,000.

Issues: Abortion rights--supports, although as a Catholic is personally against it. Education vouchers--supports. Health care plan--undecided, endorses tax credits. Gay rights--opposes. Welfare plan--supports. Gnatcatcher--opposes.

Iris Swanson

Age: 65

Home:

San Clemente

Occupation: Community college trustee

Background:

Elected a Saddleback Community College District trustee in 1985.

Issues: Abortion rights--supports a woman’s rights, but personally opposes abortion. Education vouchers--opposes. Health care plan--opposes, feels timing wrong because of recession. Gay rights--undecided, but supports equal rights for all. Welfare plan--supports. Gnatcatcher--opposes, but supports multi-species habitat conservation.

Sam Williamson

Age: 56

Home: Oceanside

Occupation: Councilman and insurance business owner.

Background:

Elected to council eight years ago. After stint in Marine Corps, settled in Oceanside. In insurance there since 1962. Vice president for Boys and Girls clubs, active in Elks and Optimists.

Issues: Abortion rights--supports. School vouchers--opposes, but supports choice of schools. Health care plan--opposes. Gay rights--opposes. Welfare plan--supports. Gnatcatcher--supports only if listing would not affect highway projects needed to ease congestion.

DEMOCRAT

Lee Walker

Age: 58

Home: Laguna

Niguel

Occupation: Professor of English and journalism.

Background: Has spent 21 years at Saddleback College. Elected in 1991 as director to state Community College Assn. Served as faculty union board member at Irvine Valley College. Participated in 1989 fact-finding trip with college administrators to Soviet Union. U.S. Army veteran with Corps of Engineers.

Issues: Abortion rights--supports. Education vouchers--opposes. Health care plan--supports. Gay rights--supports. Welfare plan--opposes. Gnatcatcher--supports.

LIBERTARIAN

Paul H. King

Age: 37

Home: Oceanside

Occupation: Machinery repair business and tax consultant.

Background: Runs machinery repair business and consulting services out of his home. Has never run for elected office before.

Issues: Abortion rights--supports, but opposes government subsidies for abortions. Education vouchers--undecided, but supports idea of tax credits. Health care plan--opposes. Gay rights--opposes. Welfare plan--supports. Gnatcatcher-- opposes.

PEACE AND FREEDOM

Paul A. Steele

Age: 69

Home: Oceanside

Occupation: Retired businessman

Background: Ran a Costa Mesa furniture manufacturing business for 18 years. Currently studying photo journalism at Palomar College and helping on student paper. Member of Peace and Freedom Party and, before that, Independent Progressive Party for 45 years.

Issues: Abortion rights--supports. Education vouchers--opposes. Health care plan--supports, but feels it doesn’t go far enough to address the problem. Gay rights--supports. Welfare--opposes. Gnatcatcher--undecided.