SUNDAY BRIEFING: An occasional look at county issues : ORANGE COUNTY AND THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION

The Democratic platform is a statement of principles that define the character of the party. It draws scant attention from the public, but is a major issue for convention participants. Some planks have been praised while others have drawn criticism from the Orange County delegation, already split on the presidential nominee: 14 are pledged to Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton and 10 to ex-California Gov. Edmund G. (Jerry) Brown Jr. The group includes a union representative from Cypress, an emergency room physician from Laguna Hills, a hair salon owner from Santa Ana and a college professor from Westminster.

ISSUES, REACTIONS, POLL RESULTS

Platform: “America is the world’s strongest military power and we must remain so. A post-Cold War restructuring of American forces will produce substantial savings beyond those promised by the Bush Administration, but that restructuring must be achieved without undermining our ability to meet future threats to our security.”

In Orange County: Defense employment dropped 15% in the most recent three years for which statistics are available. But even though most residents surveyed by The Times this spring said they believe defense cutbacks could hurt the economy, a third wanted deeper reductions than President Bush has proposed.

“We argued for a 50% cut in the military; Clinton voted us down. We wanted an end to nuclear testing; Clinton voted us down. We tried to get the national party on record against first use of nuclear weapons. On the issues, there are differences that separate us.” Tim Carpenter, a Brown delegate from Santa Ana.

Reducing Military Spending: The Bush Administration’s plan is to reduce military spending by 3.5% or $50 billion over the next five years. Some in Congress favor larger cuts. Do you think the defense cuts proposed by the Bush Administration are too much, about right or not enough? Democrats Too much: 18% About right: 34% Not enough: 41% Don’t know: 7% Republicans Too much: 13% About right: 56% Not enough: 25% Don’t know: 6%

Platform: “Democrats stand behind the right of every woman to choose--consistent with Roe vs. Wade--regardless of ability to pay, and (they) support a national law to protect that right. It is a fundamental constitutional liberty that individual Americans--not government--can best take responsibility for making the most difficult and intensely personal decisions regarding reproduction.”

In Orange County: Only one state or federal lawmaker supports abortion rights--Garden Grove Assemblyman Tom Umberg, the county’s only Democratic legislator. Still, abortion was a major issue in several Republican primaries last month. A Times poll in May found about two-thirds of the county’s residents would oppose a law prohibiting abortion.

“I think the choice issue will be right up there. I think there’s a lot of Republican women who will be voting for Clinton on the choice issue.” Linda Moulton-Patterson, a Clinton delegate from Huntington Beach.

Agreeing with the Candidate: In voting in this year’s elections, how important is it to you that the candidate you support agrees with your views on abortion? Democrats Very important: 55% Somewhat important: 34% Not important: 11% Republicans Very important: 48% Somewhat important: 32% Not important: 20%

Platform: “Multilateral trade agreements can advance our economic interests by expanding the global economy. Negotiating the North American Free Trade Area . . . our government must ensure that our legitimate concerns about environmental health and safety and labor standards are included.”

In Orange County: Businesses are exploring new opportunities in Mexico in hopes that the United States will approve a trade agreement. But labor groups worry that it could eliminate American jobs. A recent poll found almost half the county’s residents would expect a negative impact.

“It’s not like we’re even helping the Mexican people; we’re taking (U.S.) jobs that used to pay $500 a week and they go to Mexico and pay $30 a week. And who gets the extra money? Do the Americans get the money? Do the Mexicans get the money? No, the CEOs get the money. So we have one more billionaire--what good does that do all of us?” Dorianne Garcia, a Brown delegate from Cypress.

Effect of Free Trade: The United States and Mexico are negotiating a free trade agreement that would make it easier for the two countries to exchange goods and services. What effect do you think a free trade agreement will have on the job outlook in Orange County? Will there be job loss, job growth or no change? Democrats Job loss: 38% Job growth: 17% No change: 38% Don’t know: 7% Republicans Job loss: 30% Job growth: 20% No change: 39% Don’t know: 11%

Platform: “Welfare should be a second chance, not a way of life. . . . We will give them the help they need to make the transition from welfare to work and require people who can work to go to work within two years in available jobs either in the private sector or in community service to meet unmet needs.”

In Orange County: A workfare program for general assistance welfare recipients has been in place for about a decade. But now, recipients are bracing for new restrictions as the state struggles to resolve a budget shortfall. Voters overwhelmingly supported Gov. Pete Wilson’s plan for welfare cutbacks in a recent poll, but fewer than half of the county’s Democrats backed the plan.

“I’m strong on that (workfare) issue. You just can’t sit back and watch TV and drink a beer or whatever and wait for that check.” Rueben Martinez, a Clinton delegate from Santa Ana.

Split on November Initiative: Gov. Wilson has an initiative on the November ballot that would make several changes in the state welfare system, including cutting benefits by 10% immediately and by 15% in six months for most families with at least one able-bodied adult, denying benefits to children born to mothers already on welfare, and restricting the amount new residents can receive during their first 12 months in California. If the election were held today, would you vote yes or no on this initiative?

Don’t Yes No Know Democrats 49% 46% 5% Republicans 78% 18% 4% O.C. voters 66% 30% 4%

At a Glance

The 1992 Democratic National Convention opens Monday after nearly two full days of welcoming galas for delegates, donors and guests. Delegates and their alternates will attend caucus meetings, elect convention officers, adopt an official platform and nominate the party’s presidential and vice-presidential candidates.

Who’ll Be There?

4,922 delegates and alternates, including 464 from California (28 from Orange County districts).

5,000 party officials, guests and staff

500 foreign dignitaries

15,000 media representatives

Schedule Highlights

Monday

Opening ceremonies and keynote address by Democratic National Chairman Ronald H. Brown

Tuesday

Women’s and Hispanic Caucus meetings

Adoption of party platform. Discussion of capital gains tax cuts, government spending limits, environmental policy, abortion, term limits and economic growth policies

Speakers: Rep. Pat Schroeder (Colo.); the Rev. Jesse Jackson; AIDS activist Elizabeth Glaser, and Bob Hattoy, a Clinton adviser who has AIDS

Wednesday

Remarks by Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (Mass.) and former Sen. Paul Tsongas (Mass.)

Nomination of presidential candidate by New York Gov. Mario Cuomo

Thursday

Nomination of vice presidential candidate

Acceptance speeches by vice presidential and presidential nominees

Closing ceremonies

When to Watch

CNN and C-SPAN will provide gavel-to-gavel coverage from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Morning and afternoon convention programming will include live call-ins and interviews.

Major networks are planning at least one hour of evening coverage, and will extend coverage on Wednesday night, when the party makes its presidential nomination.

Comedy Central, a 24-hour comedy cable network, will provide satirical commentary of the convention’s evening sessions with “Saturday Night Live” veteran Al Franken as anchor.

The Delegates From Orange County Congressional Districts

CLINTON DELEGATES

Rajen Anand: Anand, 54, Westminster, is a professor of physiology at Cal State Long Beach. He is a member of the Executive Board of the California Democratic Party and the Orange County Democratic Central Committee, and is chairman of the Asian and Pacific American Caucus of the California Democratic Party and the Indo-American Political Assn.

Keith Bohr: Bohr, 31, Huntington Beach, is the city’s redevelopment project manager. He was born and raised in Rockford, Ill., and moved to Orange County in 1987.

Lou Cruz: Cruz, 48, Anaheim, is a union representative for United Food and Commercial Workers Local 324.

Deborah Cunningham-Skurnik: Cunningham-Skurnik, 37, Mission Viejo, is a member of the Parent-Teacher Assn. and School Site Council at O’Neill Elementary. She is a league director for youth soccer and serves on the local Little League board. She worked for the Walter Mondale campaign in 1984 and the Michael Dukakis campaign in 1988.

Shirley Hafner: Hafner, 53, Fullerton, has been involved in Democratic politics since the John F. Kennedy presidential campaign. She works as a ward clerk at UCI Medical Center. She is secretary/treasurer of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3251 and chairwoman of Region IV AFSCME Political Action Committee.

John Hanna: Hanna, 41, Santa Ana, is an attorney with the firm of Horton, Barbaro & Reilly. He is a former chairman of the Orange County Democratic Party and serves on the Executive Board of the California Democratic Party. He is also a member of the California Trial Lawyers Assn.

Rueben Martinez: Martinez, 42, Santa Ana, owns a hairstyling salon. He is a member of the California Democratic Central Committee and the Orange County Democratic Central Committee. He has been honored as the Small-Business Person of the Year in Orange County.

Linda Moulton-Patterson: Moulton-Patterson, 49, is a Huntington Beach council member and owner of Moulton-Patterson & Associates, a consulting firm. She serves on the California Coastal Commission and the board of United Way. She is married to former Orange County Congressman Jerry Patterson.

Susan Naples: Naples, 43, Orange, is co-owner of a property management firm. She is a member and former chapter coordinator of the National Organization for Women. She was on the board of AIDS Walk Orange County and is a member of the California Abortion Rights Action League.

Richard O’Neill: O’Neill, 69, San Juan Capistrano, is a former chairman of the state Democratic Party. His business interests include real estate, horses, cattle and the historic El Adobe Restaurant. He is on the Orange County Democratic Central Committee and the California Democratic Central Committee.

Richard Schrank: Schrank, 59, Fullerton, was born and raised in Long Beach and has worked since 1951 for McDonnell Douglas. He is a four-term member of the Orange County Democratic Central Committee and served for 12 years as treasurer of the Democrats of North Orange County.

Nell Soto: Soto, 66, is vice mayor of Pomona. She has been a public affairs representative for the Southern California Rapid Transit District for eight years, has served on the Los Angeles County Democratic Central Committee and the California Democratic Central Committee.

David Stearns: Stearns, 39, Pomona, is a construction worker who has been active in the Carpenters Union Local 2361 in Orange County. He worked on the 1990 campaign of Assemblyman Tom Umberg.

Diane Vigil: Vigil, 32, Cypress, is a labor representative for the United Food and Commercial Workers. She volunteered in the 1990 gubernatorial campaign of Dianne Feinstein and is involved in the Feinstein for U.S. Senate campaign. She has also worked on campaigns in her home state of New Mexico.

BROWN DELEGATES

Angela Anand: Anand, 46, Westminster, owns Complete Medical Care Inc. in Fountain Valley and has been active in the party for the past 10 years. She is a member of the California Democratic Central Committee and was recently elected to the Orange County Central Committee.

Steven Bradburn: Bradburn, 37, Buena Park, is a lifelong resident of Orange County. He has worked for five years as a business representative for labor unions. He has a degree from Cal State Fullerton.

Tim Carpenter: Carpenter, 33, Santa Ana, was a Jesse Jackson delegate to the 1988 convention. He is a member of both the Orange County and California Democratic central committees. He also serves on the board of the Orange County Homeless Issues Task Force.

Dorianne Garcia: Garcia, 33, Cypress, is a communications technician for Pacific Bell and the union representative for the Communications Workers of America Local 9510. She is the Democratic nominee for state Senate in the 35th District against incumbent Marian Bergeson (R-Newport Beach).

Bill Honigman: Honigman, 38, Laguna Hills, is an emergency physician with Kaiser Permanente Hospital-Orange County. He is treasurer of the Democratic Central Committee and active in other state and local party organizations.

David Jacks: Jacks, 40, Pomona, is director of engineering for a major corporation. He is a Pomona city commissioner and a member of the city’s Chief of Police Advisory Board.

Willie Little: Little, 57, Oceanside, is a retired mail carrier for the U.S. Postal Service. He has been a member of the San Diego Labor Council, the Carlsbad/Oceanside Democratic Club, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the NAACP.

Dietrich Nicholson: Nicholson, 53, Garden Grove, is a construction worker and member of the Carpenters Union Local 2361. He is a former candidate for the Garden Grove City Council.

Duwane Noonan: Noonan, 65, Garden Grove, served as a mail carrier for the U.S. Postal Service for 30 years before retiring. He also volunteered on the 1988 Michael Dukakis campaign for President.

Loretta Walker: Walker, 55, Westminster, has served 12 years on the California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board and has been a member of the United Auto Workers Local 887 for more than 31 years.

Note: Some of the delegates live outside of Orange County, but within district boundaries that overlap the county line.

Sources: Democratic Party, CNN, C-Span and network television, Times Orange County Poll, April and May 1992.