CALIFORNIA ELECTIONS / 68TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT : Incumbent’s Vacancy a Window of Opportunity for Candidates : Two Democrats and three Republicans will compete in June 2 primary for seat in the newly drawn district.

When reapportionment touched off a scramble among Orange County’s state Assembly members early this year, incumbent Doris Allen (R-Cypress) was expected to run for the newly drawn 68th district since it contained many of her current constituents.

But at the last minute, Allen surprised her party leaders and chose, instead, to compete against two of her Assembly colleagues for a new seat on the coast.

Her decision left Democrats wondering whether the vacancy might give them an unexpected opportunity in the 68th District, even though Republicans hold an edge among registered voters in the district--which includes parts of Garden Grove, Westminster, Anaheim and Buena Park.

Two Democrats are competing in the June 2 primary--John Kanel, a field representative for state Sen. Cecil N. Green (D-Norwalk) and Linda Kay Rigney, an intermediate school teacher’s assistant.

For Republicans, Allen’s decision was a break for a trio of candidates, all with experience in elected office and each poised for a new job in Sacramento.

The Republican field includes Buena Park Mayor Rhonda J. McCune, Westminster City Councilwoman Joy L. Neugebauer and former state Assemblyman Curt Pringle.

The three Republicans met in a debate Saturday, but instead of mixing it up on their differences, the three largely talked about agreements. Each opposed any tax increases to balance a severe budget deficit, they each blamed overregulation for hurting California businesses and they opposed a health care plan that requires employers to provide basic coverage.

One of the only disagreements came during discussion of a proposed initiative to give parents a voucher that would allow them to enroll children at the school of their choice--including private institutions. Both McCune and Neugebauer opposed the initiative. But it was favored by Pringle, who noted that his son is in private school.

“I am glad you are able to put your kids in private schools, I’m just saying that most of us can’t,” McCune told Pringle.

Pringle said the initiative could reduce the funding available for public schools if parents exchange their vouchers at private facilities. But, he said, “we have committed dollars in the state and it’s not solving the education problem.”

So far, the Republican race has lacked a clear front-runner. And since all of the candidates have demonstrated a base of support and each appears strapped for cash, it could remain jumbled through the primary.

What’s made the race even more confusing is that some of the candidates’ traditional support groups have been split among the contenders.

McCune, for example, said she and Neugebauer will probably split the support among voters seeking a female candidate and one with experience in local office.

“It definitely hurts my campaign,” McCune said. “She will take votes from me.”

At the same time though, Neugebauer and Pringle appear to be splitting the support from conservative groups and those who agree with both candidates’ opposition to abortion. McCune supports abortion rights.

Pringle has been endorsed by several conservative lawmakers and leading Republican officials. But the largest grass-roots conservative group--the Coordinating Republican Assembly--declined to endorse anyone in the race because its members were split between Pringle and Neugebauer.

Some of the group’s members said they were concerned about Pringle’s electability since he lost his Assembly seat to Democrat Tom Umberg two years ago following a controversy in which his 1988 campaign was criticized for placing uniformed guards at polling places in Latino neighborhoods on Election Day.

“We all supported him when he was elected to the Assembly, but what concerned the delegates was that maybe it’s too soon for him to run again,” said Steve Brodie, head of the Orange County Coordinating Republican Assembly chapter. “It’s the electability question--do we want to run the risk of losing another seat to another Democrat?”

McCune has attacked Pringle several times over the so-called poll guard incident, most recently in a campaign mailer that labeled Pringle “just another dishonest politician.”

Angered by that letter, Pringle complained to the county Republican Party’s ethics committee that McCune had violated the GOP’s written code of conduct for campaigns. After hearing testimony from both campaigns, the committee issued a reprimand to McCune.

Her letter charged that Pringle “violated federal voting rights law.” Actually, a criminal investigation was launched into the poll guard incident, but it was dropped with no charges filed. A civil lawsuit against Pringle and other Republican officials, however, was settled out of court for more than $400,000.

McCune also generated a controversy last month when she acknowledged that almost her entire campaign bank account was funded by more than $17,000 in donations from two principals at Knott’s Berry Farm, her city’s largest employer.

One issue that has not commanded attention in the race is the rapidly growing ethnic communities, which now account for about 45% of the population in the 68th Assembly District. Nearly a quarter of the district’s residents are Latino, and there is also a large Asian community surrounding Westminster’s Little Saigon area.

Short on money, Democratic campaigners have shown little activity. Both candidates said, however, that there might be an opportunity for their party in the November general election.

“This is considered one of those districts that might become Democrat,” Kanel said.

68th Assembly District

Here are the candidates running for the seat in the June 2 primary.

The Issues

The following are the questions asked of each candidate:

Abortion rights--Do you support or oppose abortion rights?

Education voucher--Do you support the proposed education initiative, which would provide parents with a 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 AB101, prohibiting discrimination by employers against homosexuals?

Welfare 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 that nests in areas targeted for development, be designated as a state endangered species?

REPUBLICANS

Rhonda J. McCune

Home: Buena Park

Age: 46

Occupation: Commercial real estate appraiser.

Background: Mayor of Buena Park; elected to the City Council in 1985; worked in real estate for eight years.

Issues: Abortion rights--supports. Education voucher--opposes initiative, but favors a school choice plan. Health care--opposes. Gay rights--opposes. Welfare--supports. Gnatcatcher--opposes.

Joy L. Neugebauer

Home: Westminster

Age: 65

Occupation: Consultant, Ace Tool Co., Long Beach.

Background: Westminster City Council member serving fifth term; Westminster’s first elected mayor, 1984; candidate for Congress, 1974; candidate for Orange County supervisor, 1990; owner, Ace Tool Co., for 36 years.

Issues: Abortion rights--opposes. Education voucher--opposes. Health care--opposes. Gay rights--opposes. Welfare--undecided. Gnatcatcher--undecided.

Curt Pringle

Home: Garden Grove

Age: 32

Occupation: Vice president, Pringle’s Draperies, Anaheim.

Background: Former state assemblyman, 1988-1990; three-time candidate for Garden Grove City Council; worked with family business in Anaheim for 20 years.

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

DEMOCRATS

John Kanel

Home: Anaheim

Age: 62

Occupation: Field representative to state Sen. Cecil N. Green (D-Norwalk).

Background: Democratic nominee against Assemblywoman Doris Allen (R-Cypress) in 1984. Former professional sports administrator.

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

Linda Kay Rigney

Home: Garden Grove

Age: 48

Occupation: Education assistant, Alamitos Intermediate School.

Background: Employee at school for 15 years.

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