Decision ’92 : SPECIAL VOTERS’ GUIDE TO STATE AND LOCAL ELECTIONS : THE CONGRESSIONAL RACES

This could be a watershed year of sorts in Orange County’s congressional races. The county hasn’t had a Democrat in Congress for nearly a decade, and pundits aren’t predicting a breakthrough this year because of a big GOP voter registration advantage in most districts. But local voters could help elect the first Korean-American to Congress if Diamond Bar’s Jay C. Kim, a Republican, is victorious in the 41st District.

Although Republicans probably will prevail in most of the races, the Democrats have hopes for a few good showings. In the 39th District, Molly McClanahan is getting strong support from abortion rights supporters in her battle against state Sen. Edward R. Royce (R-Fullerton). In the 45th District, Patricia McCabe hopes the women’s vote and anti-incumbent fever help her sweep out Dana Rohrabacher (R-Huntington Beach).

Meanwhile, flamboyant conservative Rep. Robert K. Dornan (R-Garden Grove) has to contend with a Democratic registration advantage in his fight against Robert John Banuelos in the 46th District. Democrats outnumber Republicans in the district 47.5% to 41.2%, but Dornan has consistently been able to battle his way to victory.

The Issues

The following are the questions asked of each candidate:

Abortion rights--Do you support abortion rights?

Capital gains tax--Do you support cuts in the federal capital gains tax?

Health plan--Do you support President Bush’s national health plan, which would provide tax breaks for low- and middle-income families and slash Medicaid by $35 billion over five years?

Gun control--Do you support legislation similar to the Brady bill, which would place a waiting period on the purchase of handguns?

Soviet aid--Do you support the Bush plan to bail out the republics of the former Soviet Union?

Desert protection--Do you support the Cranston desert bill, which would dramatically expand the area in the Mojave and other sections of California to protect against encroachment?

The Candidates

39TH DISTRICT

Edward R. Royce: REPUBLICAN

Age: 41.

Home: Fullerton.

Occupation: State senator.

Background: Has served in the state Senate for 10 years; authored numerous bills supporting crime victims’ rights, including stalking law; chairman of the Senate Constitutional Amendments Committee; former businessman and capital projects manager.

Issues: Abortion rights--opposes. Capital gains tax cut--supports. Health care plan--supports. Gun control--opposes. Soviet aid--supports loans, not grants. Desert protection--opposes.

Molly McClanahan: DEMOCRAT

Age: 55.

Home: Fullerton.

Occupation: Member of Fullerton City Council; director of the Anaheim Youth Employment Service.

Background: First elected to the Fullerton council in 1982; served as mayor in 1989; Fullerton College Foundation board member; former chairwoman of the Orange County Housing Advisory Committee; past president of the North Orange County chapter of League of Women Voters.

Issues: Abortion rights--supports. Capital gains tax cut--supports. Health care plan--opposes, but supports broader plan. Gun control--supports. Soviet aid--supports, if other nations also contribute. Desert protection--supports.

Jack Dean: LIBERTARIAN

Age: 45.

Home: Fullerton.

Occupation: Management company administrator.

Background: Unsuccessful candidate for U.S. Senate in 1988; unsuccessful candidate for State Board of Equalization in 1982; co-founder in 1981 of the Samuel Adams Society, which is dedicated to the development of Libertarian Party candidates; past state and county party chairman.

Issues: Abortion rights--supports. Capital gains tax cut--supports. Health care plan--opposes. Gun control--opposes. Soviet aid--opposes. Desert protection--opposes.

41ST DISTRICT

Jay C. Kim: REPUBLICAN

Age: 53.

Home: Diamond Bar.

Occupation: Owns engineering design firm.

Background: Mayor of Diamond Bar; first elected to the City Council in 1990; ordained elder in his church; named 1988 Engineer of the Year by the Asian American Architects and Engineers; numerous community board memberships including the Olympic Advisory Council during 1980s.

Issues: Abortion rights--supports. Capital gains tax cut--supports. Health care plan--opposes. Gun control--supports. Soviet aid--supports some loans. Desert protection--supports, if no cost to government.

Bob Baker: DEMOCRAT

Age: 40.

Home: Anaheim.

Occupation: Analyst for defense contractor.

Background: Ran unsuccessfully for Anaheim City Council in 1988; leader in the defeat of a tax measure on 1991 Anaheim ballot; served in the U.S. Army intelligence unit for 12 years and received the Bronze Star for tour of duty in Vietnam.

Issues: Abortion rights--supports. Capital gains tax cut--supports. Health care plan--opposes. Gun control--supports. Soviet aid--opposes. Desert protection--undecided.

Mike Noonan: PEACE AND FREEDOM

Age: 52.

Home: Claremont.

Occupation: Pharmacist.

Background: Co-founder of the Peace and Freedom Party; state and Los Angeles County party chairman during the early 1980s; ran unsuccessfully in five previous elections during the 1980s against Rep. David Dreier (R-La Verne); local chapter vice president of the American Civil Liberties Union 1982-84.

Issues: Abortion rights--supports. Capital gains tax cut--opposes. Health care plan--opposes. Gun control--supports. Soviet aid--opposes. Desert protection--supports.

45TH DISTRICT

Dana Rohrabacher: REPUBLICAN

Age: 45.

Home: Huntington Beach.

Occupation: Incumbent.

Background: Speech writer in Reagan White House. Ran for Congress in 1988. Won 42nd District, reelected in 1990. Switched to 45th District after reapportionment. Former journalist.

Issues: Abortion rights--opposes. Capital gains cuts--wants tax completely abolished. Health plan--supports. Gun control--opposes, but supports laws keeping criminals from having guns. Soviet aid--opposes, prefers pushing trade relations. Desert protection--opposes.

Patricia McCabe: DEMOCRAT

Age: 43.

Home: Huntington Beach.

Occupation: Certified public accountant.

Background: Ran in 1988 for state Senate. Past president of Democratic Club of West Orange County. Member of Huntington Beach Environmental Board, serving second year. Lifelong Democrat.

Issues: Abortion rights--supports. Capital gains cuts--opposes. Health plan--opposes, but interested in single-payer plan to cut costs and work toward national health care. Gun control--supports. Soviet aid--supports. Desert protection--supports.

Gary D. Copeland: LIBERTARIAN

Age: 36.

Home: Fountain Valley.

Occupation: Computer firm owner.

Background: Established computer consulting and systems analysis company a decade ago. Before that, was systems analyst. Orange County vice chairman of Libertarian Party. Worked for Jarvis-Gann initiative, but first time running for elected office. Libertarian since 1978.

Issues: Abortion rights--supports. Capital gains cuts--supports elimination. Health plan--opposes. Gun control--opposes. Soviet aid--opposes, but wants market incentives. Desert protection--supports.

46TH DISTRICT

Robert K. Dornan: REPUBLICAN

Age: 59.

Home: Garden Grove.

Occupation: Congressman.

Background: Elected to Congress in 1976 representing Santa Monica. Elected to Congress representing Orange County, 1984. Candidate for U.S. Senate, 1982. In Air Force, 1953-58. Former broadcast journalist and talk show host. Dornan engaged in a vitriolic primary race with pro-choice challenger Judith Ryan, but walloped her on election night. Since then, he’s been busy as point man for President Bush’s efforts to batter Democratic presidential challenger Bill Clinton.

Issues: Abortion rights--opposes. Capital gains tax cut--supports. Health care plan--supports. Gun control--opposes. Soviet aid--opposes. Desert protection--opposes.

Robert John Banuelos: DEMOCRAT

Age: 40.

Home: Santa Ana.

Occupation: Santa Ana community services representative.

Background: Born and raised in Santa Ana. Candidate for U.S. Senate, 1986 and 1988. Retired employee of Pacific Bell, 15 years. Union member and steward of Communications Workers of America and Service Employees International. Former loan executive, United Way of Orange County. Volunteer, Hunger Coalition of Orange County, Homeless Task Force and interpreter for Amnesty International.

Issues: Abortion rights--supports. Capital gains tax cuts--undecided. Gun control--supports. Desert protection--supports. Soviet aid--partially supports.

Richard G. Newhouse: LIBERTARIAN

Age: 45

Home: Garden Grove

Occupation: College professor of geography.

Background: Former attorney for 12 years in Florida. Currently teaching at West Los Angeles College. Former Republican and Democrat. Libertarian Party member for five years. Ran 1990 write-in campaign for state Senate.

Issues: Abortion rights--supports. Capital gains tax cut--supports. Health plan--supports. Gun control-- opposes. Soviet aid--opposes government aid, supports free trade. Desert protection--opposes, feels should be private property.

47TH DISTRICT

Christopher Cox: REPUBLICAN

Age: 40.

Home: Newport Beach.

Occupation: Incumbent.

Background: Elected to Congress in 1988; attorney; counsel to President Reagan from 1986-88; co-chairman of the congressional Task Force on Budget Process Reform.

Issues: Abortion rights--opposes federal funding for abortions. Capital gains tax cut--supports total elimination. Health care plan--supports. Gun control--opposes. Soviet aid--opposes. Desert protection--opposes Cranston Senate bill, but supports House bill.

John F. Anwiler: DEMOCRAT

Age: 49.

Home: Lake Forest.

Occupation: Business development economist.

Background: California native whose only previous political involvement was an unsuccessful campaign in the mid-1970s for the Los Angeles Community College board; real estate broker.

Issues: Abortion rights--supports. Capital gains tax cut-- supports. Health care plan--opposes. Gun control-- supports. Soviet aid--opposes. Desert protection--supports.

Maxine B. Quirk: PEACE AND FREEDOM

Age: 70.

Home: Orange.

Occupation: Apartment owner/manager.

Background: A frequent candidate who also has run for the state Senate and State Board of Equalization; secretary/treasurer of local Gray Panthers chapter.

Issues: Abortion rights--supports. Capital gains tax cut-- opposes. Health care plan--opposes. Gun control-- supports. Soviet aid--opposes. Desert protection-- supports.

48TH DISTRICT

Ron Packard: REPUBLICAN

Age: 61.

Home: Oceanside.

Occupation: Incumbent.

Background: First elected to Congress in 1982 by a write-in vote; relocated to Carlsbad in 1959 after being stationed at Camp Pendleton for two years in U.S. Navy Dental Corps; former school board member, city councilman and mayor.

Issues: Abortion rights--opposes. Capital gains tax cut--supports. Health care plan--supports as a first step. Gun control--supports. Desert protection--opposes but favors alternative House bill. Soviet aide--opposes.

48TH DISTRICT

Donna White: PEACE AND FREEDOM

(Photo not available)

Age: unavailable

Home: San Diego

Occupation: Telephone operator

Background: Ran for Congress in 1990. San Diego County treasurer of the Peace and Freedom Party and member of the state Central Committee. Member of ACT UP, a gay rights organization. Managed a progressive bookstore.

Issues: Abortion rights--supports. Capital gains cuts--opposes. Health plan--Opposes both Bush and Clinton plan, believes in socialized medicine. Soviet aid--supports humanitarian aid. Desert protection--supports.

Michael Farber: DEMOCRAT

Age: 32

Home: Escondido

Occupation: Former land broker and development consultant.

Background: Member of the California Assn. of Realtors since 1985; owned a consulting business until the end of 1991.

Issues: Abortion rights--supports. Capital gains tax cut--supports for job-producing businesses. Health care plan--opposes, but generally supports universal health care plan. Gun control--opposes. Soviet aid--supports. Desert protection--undecided.

Ted Lowe: LIBERTARIAN

(Photo not available)

Age: 51

Home: Oceanside

Occupation: Works in sales for auto body parts supplier.

Background: Member of the Libertarian Party for 10 years; making his first bid for office.

Issues: Abortion rights--supports. Capital gains tax cut--supports elimination of all taxes. Health care plan--opposes. Gun control--opposes. Soviet aid--opposes. Desert protection--opposes.