Firestone to Seek GOP Nod for O’Connell’s Seat

Eleven years after he narrowly lost a bid for an Assembly seat representing western Ventura County, Santa Barbara County winery owner Brooks Firestone announced Thursday that he is running for the seat again.

In 1982, Firestone was defeated by Assemblyman Jack O’Connell (D-Carpinteria) in the 35th Assembly District race by only 1,190 votes of 102,550 cast.

But now that O’Connell is vacating the seat to run for the state Senate, Firestone said he believes that it’s time to re-enter the political arena.

“I feel a call (to public service),” said Firestone, 57, owner of Firestone Vineyards and grandson of the Firestone Tire & Rubber Co. founder.

He said California has been good to him in the 30 years since he left the family business to launch what has become the largest and best-known winery in the Santa Ynez Valley.

“This is my pay-back to the state of California,” he said.

Firestone said he is re-emerging as a candidate after considerable thought about the issues and troubles facing California.

If elected to the Legislature, Firestone said he would try to make California more attractive to businesses and to reduce what he considers burdensome regulations. He advocates further reforms of the state workers’ compensation system and would like to see Sacramento lawmakers be “more responsive to businesses.”

Firestone considers himself a moderate Republican, and he said his campaign themes would include his vision to improve public safety and education.

Firestone is the only Republican to announce his candidacy so far in the district, which encompasses Ventura, Santa Paula, Ojai and most of Santa Barbara County. He said he has talked with other Republicans who were interested in the seat and persuaded them not to run, so as to avoid a bruising primary.

He said Republicans need to unify the party if they are to win the district. Democrats represent 45.9% of the district’s registered voters, compared with 37.3% for Republicans, according to registrar of voter figures in the two counties.

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Democratic candidates who have stepped forward are Bob Ream, 26, an aide to state Sen. Gary K. Hart (D-Santa Barbara), and Mindy Lorenz, a former Green Party member who ran unsuccessfully for Congress last year. Solvang City Councilwoman Carol Anders said she plans to announce her candidacy soon.

Ventura Mayor Gregory L. Carson, who had expressed interest in running, said he decided to defer to Firestone because he thinks that Firestone will have a good chance of winning.

“Brooks has the financial backing and the name recognition to run a very good campaign,” Carson said. “I didn’t want to take him on in the primary.”

O’Connell said his district looks for a moderate representative. “Either a moderate Democrat or a moderate Republican can be successful,” he said.

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He attributed his 1982 victory over Firestone to his aggressive grass-roots campaign and his opponent’s complacency.

“He didn’t take me seriously at the time,” O’Connell said. “I think that Mr. Firestone will work very hard, and he won’t take anything for granted this time.”

In 1982, Firestone spent $493,000 on his campaign, compared to $213,000 for O’Connell. Firestone said he plans to raise about $500,000 for this campaign. In 1982, he said he gave about $25,000 to his election effort. His father--Leonard K. Firestone, former U. S. ambassador to Belgium--donated $80,000 to the campaign.

This time, Firestone said he can’t afford to spend any of his own money, but “I am soliciting every member of my family--including my four children--for donations.”

Firestone’s grandfather, Harvey, founded Firestone Tire & Rubber, which has since been sold and is no longer in the family.

Firestone worked in the tire company for about 10 years, then resigned to become a vintner. The first grapes were planted on the Firestone property in 1973, and Firestone and his wife, Kate, eventually built up the Firestone Vineyard to be the largest winery in the Santa Ynez Valley, producing about 80,000 cases of wine a year.

Firestone said he thinks that he has a fair amount of name recognition in the district--especially in Santa Barbara County--because of the tire company and his winery.

“It’s a mixed blessing,” said Firestone, who worries that he will be viewed as a rich businessman trying to buy the election. “People may have preconceived notions about me.”