Backers Say Nolan’s Plea Is ‘Like a Death in the Family’

When Assemblyman Pat Nolan visited engineering mogul Joseph Jacobs at his Pasadena office last year to persuade him of his innocence, he left Jacobs believing that the Glendale Republican was merely a target of political blackmail.

Jacobs was so convinced that he wrote checks in 1993 totaling $36,000 to the Friends of Nolan defense and campaign fund. In an interview earlier this month, Jacobs said: “I’ve gotten his side of the story and it all hangs together as far as I’m concerned. I think he’s incorruptible.”

Jacobs is just one of hundreds of supporters who gave their money and faith to Nolan as he prepared to face trial next month on federal political corruption charges.

In coast-to-coast fund-raisers, Nolan raised $522,734 last year from unwavering backers ranging from business executives to homemakers to fellow Republican politicians. In his quest, Nolan, 43, managed to enlist the help of some big names in the world of conservative GOP politics--Oliver L. North, Ed Rollins, Lyn Nofziger and Robert Novak.

Many of his supporters, like the president of Jacobs Engineering, who could not be reached Friday, were visited by the assemblyman. In those face-to-face discussions, Nolan explained how he came to accept two $5,000 checks in the mid-1980s from an undercover FBI agent who posed as a businessman seeking special benefits for a bogus shrimp processing plant.

But few were prepared for Friday’s turn of events, when Nolan, who had vigorously asserted his innocence, resigned from office, pleaded guilty to one count of racketeering and was sentenced to 33 months in prison.

One loyal backer, who spoke to Nolan on Thursday night, said the news hit the network of supporters “like a death in the family.”

Several of Nolan’s contributors reached Friday said they hold fast to their belief that Nolan is innocent, despite his admission in court that he committed a crime. They said they view his action as a tough choice made for the benefit of his family--particularly his three young children, the oldest of whom is 5. Had Nolan not pleaded guilty to the single count, he might have faced more than eight years in federal prison.

Even knowing that Nolan had pleaded guilty, Glendale attorney Tom Jeffers, another longtime campaign contributor, said he is convinced that “Pat would never do anything dishonest, not in the slightest.”

Glendale contractor and political contributor John Gregg said: “My enthusiasm for Pat has not waned one bit. Now I have an even greater level of sympathy for the man. As a matter of fact, that’s what they had for Christ when they nailed him to the cross.”

Those who know Nolan were sharing the news with dismay, said Glendale Mayor Larry Zarian, who is being mentioned as a possible GOP candidate to fill the 43rd Assembly District seat.

“I knew Pat as a hard-working, giving individual. I’m surprised and I’m saddened,” Zarian said. “To me it’s a shock.”

Meanwhile, a California Democratic Party official said Nolan’s resignation opens up possibilities in a longtime Republican district that has seen an increase in the number of traditionally Democratic Latino, African American and Asian American registered voters.

“We have two credible, good candidates who are running,” said Joel Maliniak, Democratic Party spokesman.

Democrats Adam Schiff, a former U.S. attorney, and Ken Kulpa, a community activist, are planning to square off in the primary. Three Republicans had also filed declarations to run against Nolan--Taryn McNatt-Lorimer of North Hollywood, Matthew Collins of Burbank and Peter Repovich of North Hollywood, a Los Angeles police officer.

Nolan’s resignation automatically reopens the filing period for the June primary for five days.

The governor has 14 days to call a special election to fill the remainder of Nolan’s term. The special election must be held within 120 days of Wilson’s proclamation.

Nolan never denied to his supporters that he took the FBI’s checks, backers said. His argument was that he treated the transaction as he did any other campaign contribution--by refusing to let it color his vote.

“They accused him of taking a bribe in exchange for voting for creation of an enterprise zone, but since he’s been in office he’s always supported enterprise zones to create jobs,” Jeffers said. “He’s truly a straight arrow through and through.”

Nolan’s decision Friday “came as a complete surprise to me,” Jeffers said, “but I know he did it because the cost of defending himself was so high and because the courts are so unpredictable.” In the last half of 1993, campaign records show, Nolan had $200,000 in legal bills.

Generally, Nolan’s contributors say one thing in particular endeared him to them--his level of commitment to conservative politics, mostly in the area of economics.

“It is rare to find the unique character of somebody who understands how a free-market economy works and has the guts to fight for it,” Gregg said.

Of Nolan’s decision to plead guilty, Gregg said: “I’m extremely despondent at what he’s done. I wish he would have gone for the 1 in 10 chance that he would be found not guilty.

“I think Pat would have gone for broke if he didn’t have such a great commitment for his wife and children. It’s too bad he’s not still the bachelor he was when he first got into politics 15 years ago.”