Three Endorsements for U.S. Congress

Times policy is to endorse selectively, on a case-by-case basis. Here are recommendations in three races:

ANTHONY C. BEILENSON (24th Congressional District): In this newly drawn district extending from Sherman Oaks west to Malibu and north to Thousand Oaks in Ventura County, Rep. Anthony C. Beilenson--ousted from his old Westside district by redistricting--is running against Thousand Oaks Assemblyman Tom McClintock.

In his 30 years in the state Assembly, Senate and Congress, Beilenson, 59, has earned a reputation as a smart, thoughtful, fair-minded lawmaker--a moderate Democrat, fiscally prudent, careful with his budget votes.

In McClintock’s 10 years in the California Legislature, his hard-right views have earned him a place among the most conservative members of the state’s Republican Party.

McClintock opposes gun control, campaign finance reform and abortion rights legislation, and has fought often against moderate Republican Gov. Pete Wilson. The Times endorses Beilenson.

AL WACHTEL (28th Congressional District: In this eastern Los Angeles County district, six-term Republican Rep. David Dreier of Covina favors a 15% flat tax rate, opposes public campaign financing and congressional term limits and supports a cut in congressional committee staffs. According to Common Cause, Dreier, formerly a member of the House Banking Committee, was the second-biggest recipient of contributions from the savings and loan industry in the 1980s.

His chief opponent, Democrat Al Wachtel of La Verne, a Claremont professor, is articulate and well-versed in the issues. He favors congressional term limits and supports federal programs to rebuild the nation’s infrastructure and to convert defense industries and retrain their employees. The Times endorses Wachtel.

REUBEN FRANCO (31st Congressional District): In this San Gabriel Valley district, Democratic Rep. Matthew (Marty) Martinez is locked in what could be a close race against young Republican businessman Reuben Franco.

Although Martinez, a 10-year incumbent, defeated Franco two years ago, the district has been changed through reapportionment, and a moderate Latino Republican like Franco now has a better chance than might normally be expected in a heavily Democratic area.

The respected Almanac of American Politics, which in 1990 dismissed Martinez as “close to zero,” has upgraded him somewhat in its 1992 edition but still concludes that he is just “a backbencher with little impact or influence.” The 31st District deserves better. The energetic Franco, who strongly supports small business opportunities and the enterprise zones concept put forth by Jack Kemp, offers this district real promise. The Times endorses Franco.