ORANGE COUNTY PERSPECTIVE : Bud Lewis for 73rd Assembly

There’s an increasingly nasty contest for the Republican nomination in the 73rd Assembly District, an open seat that straddles Orange and San Diego counties. Of the eight candidates, who come from a wide range of positions in government, the private sector and academia throughout this district, Carlsbad Mayor Claude A. (Bud) Lewis most deserves to win the June 2 primary.

The 73rd District is one of the many throughout California that changed dramatically as a result of redistricting, which was done to reflect population shifts revealed by the 1990 census. As a result, the 73rd District’s current representative, Robert C. Frazee (R-Carlsbad), chose instead to run in a nearby district. The candidates who stepped into the vacuum he created understand that, because the district is heavily Republican, the top vote-getter in the party’s primary is likely to win the general election in November.

Of the Republican field, five are from Orange County and three from San Diego County. Most have had at least some experience in civic affairs in their respective communities. Several, including Laguna Niguel City Councilwoman Patricia C. Bates and attorney Bill Morrow of Oceanside, have organizational muscle and money from the far right in their campaigns. Lewis, 61, a retired history and government teacher, is running a more modest grass-roots campaign.

Lewis has been effective at the local level without being an ideologue. First elected to the City Council in 1970, he has been particularly active in developing the city’s well-respected growth management plan. Throughout his tenure, he has shown a roll-up-your-sleeves willingness to attack problems. That’s just what is needed in Sacramento.

Despite sharp attacks from the right, Lewis has shown backbone by sticking to positions on issues such as abortion (he opposes it but believes women should have the right to choose) and education vouchers (he opposes them).

Lewis has the right combination of experience, temperament and thoughtfulness needed to represent this sprawling district in the 1990s.