ORANGE COUNTY AND THE REPUBLICAN CONVENTION

Republicans are rallying at the Astrodome in Houston, but some Orange County party leaders won’t be there. A few stalwarts are disenchanted with President Bush, but his showing at the convention could encourage them to return to the fold. The convention is also expected to inspire rank-and-file county Republicans, whose support is needed by Bush to win California. Meanwhile, arguments over abortion could flare.

LEADERSHIP DIVIDE

Among public officials, two Orange County supervisors are split in their support for President Bush. Meanwhile, a couple prominent in Republican circles also think differently about the President.

KEY SPEAKER: Gaddi H. Vasquez

Orange County Supervisor Vasquez will display his support Tuesday when he takes the stage before a prime-time national television audience to deliver a speech backing the President and his programs. This is the second straight convention at which Vasquez will be a featured speaker. He will also serve as the President’s point man for interviews with Spanish-language media outlets.

HOLDOUT: Harriett M. Wieder

Wieder, a longtime Orange County supervisor and GOP stalwart, is holding off any endorsement of Bush until the convention. A Republican who advoactes abortion rights, she is eager for the party to make room for people like her. But so far, the GOP has stuck to its anti-abortion stance. But there is hope for Wieder. Last week, First Lady Barbara Bush said abortion should not be part of the platform.

ON THE TEAM: Gus Owen

Owen, leader of the staunchly conservative Lincoln Club, will be at the convention as a delegate and strong backer of the President. But his wife, developer and former GOP contributor Kathryn G. Thompson, remains undecided on the eve of the convention. He says the couple have agreed to disagree: “It’s somewhat difficult. . . . But I’m pretty optimistic she will be back.”

NO SHOW: Kathryn G. Thompson

Thompson, a key Republican supporter in elections past, remains on the fence for this one. In 1988 she donated more than $100,000 to the GOP, but today she’s concerned about the economy. A first indication was inviting Democratic candidate Bill Clinton to breakfast last December. She also took a long look at Ross Perot. Now Thompson’s skipping the convention. But she promises to be watching.

The Make-or-Break County

If the county’s rank and file jumps ship or does not vote, it could be disastrous for Bush. Orange County consistently produces big Republican margins that offset Democratic gains elsewhere in the state. A look at three close campaigns in California won by Republicans, showing results from counties with the largest swing votes:

1968 / Election, Nixon (R) versus Humphrey (D) (Votes by county) Total state vote margin: 223,346 San Francisco: -76,539 Alameda: -66,260 Los Angeles: 43,229 San Diego: 93,871 Orange: 166,036

1976 / Election, Ford (R) versus Carter (D) Total state vote margin: 139,960 (Ford won state but Carter won election) Alameda: -80,708 Los Angeles: -46,967 San Francisco: -30,172 San Diego: 89,648 Orange: 176,386

1988 / Election, Bush (R) versus Dukakis (D) Total state vote margin: 352,705 Alameda: -147,467 Los Angeles: -132,636 San Francisco: -129,384 San Diego: 189,879 Orange: 317,217

REPUBLCIAN PLATFORM: ABORTION A CONTENTIOUS PLANK

Intense debate is expected over the party stance on abortion. Two congressional representatives from O.C. may be taking sides in the argument.

Abortion: The Party Line

“We believe the unborn child has a fundamental individual right to life which cannot be infringed.”--from the abortion plank of the Republican platform. The plank:

The Plank

Supports human life amendment to the Constitution

Opposes use of public revenue for abortion

Supports appointment of anti-abortion judges

A separate party resolution was passed saying the party respects differences of opinions between Republicans on the abortion issue.

ABORTION RIGHTS / John Seymour

U.S. Sen. John Seymour, a former Orange County state senator, plans to argue for abortion rights during the convention. It remains to be seen whether GOP leaders will allow Seymour, who is in a tough reelection battle with Democrat Dianne Feinstein, a chance to be heard.

ANTI-ABORTION / Robert K. Dornan

When abortion is the topic, U.S. Rep. Robert K. Dornan of Garden Grove can’t be far away. He has been among the most devout opponents of abortion in Congress for a decade. If the abortion battle heats up at the convention, expect Dornan to play a prominent role.

DELEGATES FROM ORANGE COUNTY

Bob Beaver: Beaver, 85, Fullerton, is a longtime member of the Lincoln Club, an avid contributor, campaign organizer and party elder.

Manuel Ortega: Ortega, 49, Yorba Linda, is Placentia police chief, has been a law officer for a 25 years and is the highest ranking Latino law enforcement officer in Orange County. A strong supporter of Supervisor Gaddi H. Vasquez and state Atty. Gen. Dan Lungren.

Emily Sanford: Sanford, 57, Huntington Beach, is nearly a full-time volunteer at the county Republican Party headquarters, active in the Huntington Harbour Republican Women’s club and membership director of the Republican Women’s Federated.

Brian Bennett: Bennett, 36, Garden Grove, is Orange County government affairs manager for Southern California Edison and former chief of staff for Rep. Robert K. Dornan.

Gloria DeCordova: DeCordova, Anaheim, is an executive consultant for a hospital corporation. Established the county’s Head Start program and has served with the Latin Business Assn. and United Latin Political Assn.

Ky Ngo: Ngo, 38, Garden Grove, was the first Vietnamese immigrant to serve as a delegate to a Republican Convention in 1988. He is an active volunteer for the county party and a member of a variety of Asian organizations.

Charlotte Mousel: Mousel, 32, Tustin, is a member of the Republican National Committee and active with Republican Women’s Federated.

Tom Fuentes: Fuentes, 43, Lake Forest, is a senior vice president of an Orange County civil engineering and land planning company and has served as chairman of the Orange County Republican Party since 1985.

David Moore: Moore, 60, Corona del Mar, is president of the Western Growers Assn., an agricultural trade group representing producers of fresh vegetables in California and Arizona. He is also a big GOP contributor and was a member of the Council on California Competitiveness.

Meredith Khachigian: Khachigian, 47, San Clemente, is president of the University of California Board of Regents and wife of former Reagan Administration speech writer Ken Khachigian.

Omi Johnson: Johnson, Orange, is active in Republican Women’s Federated and has served as a key campaign volunteer in Orange County.

Tom Reinecke: Reinecke, 32, Newport Beach, is an attorney and involved with Young Republicans and other groups. Son of former California Lt. Gov. Ed Reinecke, who served under former Gov. Ronald Reagan.

John Seymour: Seymour, 54, San Clemente, was appointed to the U.S. Senate by Gov. Pete Wilson and is now in a tough election battle with Democrat Dianne Feinstein. Before that he served as a state senator.

Gus Owen: Owen, 59, Dana Point, is a former industrial park developer, member of the state Fish and Game Commission board and president of the Lincoln Club.

REST OF THE DELEGATION

Aside from the 14 delegates from Orange County at the convention, more than 20 alternates and at-large delegates from the county are scheduled to be in Houston to take part. Among them: Marilyn Duff, Fullerton Marilyn Sutton, Brea State Sen. Ed Royce (R-Anaheim) State Sen. John Lewis (R-Orange)* Curtis Campbell, Huntingtom Beach Chad McWhinney, Huntington Beach Harold Ezell, Newport Beach* James Flournoy, Garden Grove Rosemary Avilla, Santa Ana Dennis Catron, Santa Ana Rep. Bob Dornan (R-Garden Grove)* Frank Ricchiazzi, Laguna Beach Christine Diemer, Corona del Mar Marcia Gilchrist, Santa Ana Bill Dohr, Newport Beach* Supervisor Gaddi Vasquez, Orange* Colleen Campbell, Orange* Ted Ngoy, Mission Viejo Lisa Hughes, Cota de Caza Victoria Jaffee, Mission Viejo * At-Large Delegate

Source: Orange County Republican Party

At a Glance

The Republican National Convention begins Monday in Houston at the Astrodome. Party delegates will nominate their candidates for President and Vice President and adopt the party platform.

Who’s Attending?

2,210 delegates from across the nation; 201 from California, 14 from Orange County

2,210 alternate delegates, who vote if a primary delegate is unable

50,000 party officials, guests, paid staff and volunteers

450 foreign leaders and diplomats

15,000 media representatives

Schedule Highlights

Speakers and events subject to change. Not all speakers are listed. Pacific Daylight Time is shown.

Monday

Opening ceremonies

Adoption of party platform

Speakers: Alan K. Simpson, U.S. senator from Wyoming; Carla Hills, U.S. trade representative; Carroll A. Campbell Jr., governor of South Carolina; Pat Buchanan, unsuccessful presidential candidate; Former President Ronald Reagan

Tuesday

Speakers: The Rev. E.V. Hill, pastor of Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Los Angeles; Matt Fong, member of California Board of Equalization; Lamar Alexander, secretary of U.S. Department of Education; Louis W. Sullivan, secretary of U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Gaddi H. Vasquez, Orange County supervisor; Jack Kemp, secretary of U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; Phil Gramm, keynote speaker and U.S. senator from Texas

Wednesday

Speakers: The Rev. Pat Robertson, president and founder of Christian Broadcasting Network; Marilyn Quayle, wife of Vice President Dan Quayle; First Lady Barbara Bush; Nomination of President Bush by Lynn Martin, secretary of U.S. Department of Labor; William J. Bennett, former secretary of education

Thursday

Speakers: Former President Gerald Ford; Vice President Dan Quayle; Bob Dole, U.S. senator from Kansas and Senate minority leader

Bush’s acceptance speech

Closing ceremonies; 150,000 balloons drop

When to Watch

PBS, CNN and C-SPAN will provide gavel-to-gavel coverage from 5 p.m. until the close of business, Monday through Thursday. Morning and afternoon programming will include live call-ins and interviews. PBS will feature a half-hour “Convention Night in Review” with moderator Paul Duke at 11 p.m.

Major networks are planning at least one hour of evening coverage and will extend coverage on Thursday night, when the President and vice president give speeches.

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.

Sources: California secretary of state, Republican National Committee, Los Angeles Times, television networks