VALLEYWIDE : Abortion-Rights Group Backs Starr

A major abortion-rights group has endorsed Democrat Hank Starr in his race against Assemblywoman Cathie Wright (R-Simi Valley) for the job held by retiring Republican state Sen. Ed Davis of Santa Clarita.

The California Abortion Rights Action League said it is backing Starr, a Woodland Hills lawyer, in his “bid to represent California’s pro-choice majority.” Starr and Wright are competing in the 19th Senate District, which encompasses the northwestern San Fernando Valley and southern Ventura County.

Starr characterized Wright as “a woman against women,” saying she has repeatedly opposed abortion-rights legislation. He said she recently voted against a resolution by the Legislature calling on Congress to allow abortions at military hospitals and other federally funded facilities.

Wright, who opposes legalized abortion, said that economic issues, such as equal pay for equal work, are more important to women than abortion rights.

“I think abortion issues and women’s rights come up when there’s a tight economy,” she said. When economic times are good, she said, women are less interested in such issues.

Wright said the league’s endorsement of Starr “doesn’t make any difference to me--they’ve never endorsed me.”