Hurtt Will Find Senate a Different Business : Politics: Used to having his own way as president of his own company, he could find the job of freshman legislator frustrating.

Orange County businessman Rob Hurtt used a big personal bankroll to get his message of free enterprise and “family values” to the voters, pouring more than $200,000 of his own money into his quest for the state Senate.

This week it paid off, as the Republican got 75% of the vote in rolling over half a dozen challengers for the central Orange County seat.

But now, Hurtt begins a new career in one of the more Byzantine business places on Earth--the state Capitol in Sacramento. Whether he can parlay his talent for decisive election victory into legislative success is a question even his biggest boosters say may only be determined with time.

“One of the things I worry about is Rob coming up here after being president of his own company, where he’s used to getting things done immediately,” said state Sen. John R. Lewis (R-Orange), a staunch Hurtt backer. “He’ll probably be somewhat frustrated by the way this operation works.”

But, Lewis added, he fully expects Hurtt to succeed: “He strikes me as the kind of guy who, the more he gets frustrated, the harder he’ll work to try to change things.”

Hurtt, who assumes the 32nd Senate seat vacated in January when former Sen. Ed Royce (R-Anaheim) became a congressman, admitted he’s “a bit leery” of the change.

“I’ll be the first to admit I’ll probably be somewhat frustrated,” he said. “But I think I’m a pretty empirical person, and when it comes to figuring out how to get something done, I’ll figure it out.”

In particular, Hurtt hopes to weigh in on issues he feels can help California’s business community. He wants to see regulations cut and the bureaucratic process streamlined. “I think I’m going to tackle the (Air Quality Management District) initially, because I have firsthand experience with them,” said Hurtt, who runs a Garden Grove company that makes plastic and metal containers.

Assemblyman Ross Johnson (R-Fullerton) said Hurtt “shares the typical businessman’s and citizen’s impatience and exasperation with government.” Johnson expects him to shake Sacramento up a bit.

“My impression is he isn’t one to suffer fools lightly,” Johnson said. “So there may be some lively moments.”

His Democratic critics said Hurtt will have a tough time. Although the state Senate is a far more fraternal body than the rambunctious Assembly, Hurtt will likely be irritated by the glacial pace of the legislative process, they said.

“It’s one thing when you’re running your own business. When you snap your fingers, people jump,” said George Urch, chief of staff for Assemblyman Tom Umberg (D-Garden Grove). “But in the state Senate, when you’re a back-bencher, it’s awful hard to get people to pay attention and take you seriously.”

While the GOP is outnumbered by Democrats in the Senate by a 2-to-1 margin, many Republicans have managed to carve out a legislative niche for themselves. Still, Urch and other Democrats suggest that Hurtt’s conservative politics--he is an unwavering opponent of abortion, pornography and gay rights--won’t play well.

“People have a preconceived notion of him as someone who has an agenda of trying to move the state Senate to the far right, and that doesn’t necessarily click with the other members,” Urch said.

Hurtt, however, said he expects to put his social agenda on the back burner--at least until the ranks of his fellow conservatives are bolstered. “I think we have to get some more numbers before we can do that,” he said. “I don’t see any involvement on my part on the social issues, except on the defensive if some legislation I don’t like comes up.”

Republicans say Hurtt can immediately play a role as an effective fund-raiser and campaign strategist. Last year, he was one of California’s biggest contributors to conservative Republican candidates and causes, donating more than $500,000.

Final Election Returns State Senate, 32nd District

100% Precincts Reporting Votes % Rob Hurtt (R) 26,703 75.9 Linda K. Rigney (D) 3,909 11.1 Ken LeBlanc (D) 1,954 5.6 Rick Foster (D) 1,141 3.2 Richard Newhouse (L) 648 1.8 Wayman Nelson (D) 580 1.7 David Porter (P&F;) 246 0.7