CALIFORNIA ELECTIONS / U.S. SENATE : Seymour Aims at Feinstein on Farm Issues

U. S. Sen. John Seymour toured three of California’s rich farming valleys Monday to tout his work in the Senate for farmers and to receive the blessings of the state’s biggest agricultural groups for election Nov. 3.

At the same time, the Orange County Republican attacked his Democratic opponent, Dianne Feinstein, on farm, water and environmental issues, claiming that her positions would cost the state billions in farm income and thousands of jobs.

And Seymour, serving a two-year term by appointment, also challenged Feinstein on the gender issue, declaring that voters would cast ballots this November on the basis of issues--primarily economic issues--and not because of the sex of a candidate.

Seymour raised the gender issue at the outset of each of four appearances in the San Joaquin, Salinas and Sacramento valleys by joking about himself.

With this being declared the Year of the Woman in politics, he said, he had suggested to his wife, Judy, that he should adopt a new hairstyle or dress in flashier clothes. Then he related her response:

“John, don’t even try. You, for sure, will never be another pretty face.”

Seymour is trying to portray himself as a fighter for California and he beamed when one of the farm officials on the tour, Diane Johnson of California Women for Agriculture, said her friends and associates call him “Bulldog Seymour.”

At the day’s last stop in Sacramento, Johnson said she had a message for Feinstein: “Dianne, don’t sell our gender short.” Californians will vote issues in November, not gender, she said.

“And John Seymour is the right guy for the United States Senate. John Seymour is the right person for the United States Senate.”

With Congress in recess, Seymour is making his first extended campaign tour of California since he won the GOP nomination June 2 for the remaining two years of Gov. Pete Wilson’s Senate term. Monday’s tour took him to Fresno, Bakersfield, Salinas and Sacramento.

Today, Seymour will challenge Feinstein on the gender issue in her own town by addressing Women for Seymour at a San Francisco luncheon. Seymour will focus on Southern California on Wednesday and Thursday.