Democrats Squabble in Race for Dornan’s Seat : Politics: Two candidates join forces to criticize campaign tactics of a third, who says he is being attacked because he’s the front-runner.

Two of the six Democrats running for the seat held by Rep. Robert K. Dornan (R-Garden Grove) joined forces at a news conference Friday to criticize the campaign tactics of businessman Mike Farber, another Democratic candidate in the race.

Candidates Robert Banuelos of Santa Ana and John M. Ivler of Los Alamitos accused Farber of touting political endorsements that he did not really have; of allegedly violating the state Transportation Department’s guidelines that prohibit posting campaign signs on or near freeways; and of removing Ivler’s campaign posters.

But the Farber campaign later responded that Farber was attacked because he is the front-runner in the race.

At the center of Banuelos’ complaint was a flyer distributed by Farber at a recent Cinco de Mayo celebration. The flyer included a photo of state Sen. Art Torres (D-Los Angeles) with the quote: “Mike Farber is a superb candidate for Congress and a good friend . . . .”

Banuelos said he was surprised because he had received Torres’ endorsement earlier this year and reaffirmed in March at the local Democratic Party convention.

“We took pictures together shaking hands,” Banuelos said of the recent meeting with Torres.

The Farber campaign responded that its flyer was legitimate.

“He (Torres) gave us the picture and he gave us the quote and he said go ahead and use the piece,” Farber campaign spokeswoman Shawnda Westly said.

Both sides produced a list of witnesses who had spoken to Torres and could verify their stories.

Torres, who is running for state insurance commissioner, called for an end to the dispute.

In a statement released Friday by his campaign manager, the senator reaffirmed his endorsement of Banuelos, and added: “Either one of these candidates will make an excellent replacement for Bob Dornan. As Democrats, it’s important we focus our energies on retiring Dornan from the U.S. Congress.”

Ivler, meanwhile, presented the statements of two women who said they witnessed two men removing Ivler’s campaign signs and replacing them with Farber’s.

“If a candidate can’t control their staff of volunteers, how can they be expected to run a congressional office?” Ivler said. “No other candidate has these cowboys out on the street breaking the rules.”

Westly said they spoke to the volunteer who was seen removing Ivler’s sign and the situation was corrected.

“That’s not the way we will run our campaign,” Westly said.

The other Democrats seeking the nomination in the June 7 primary are businesswoman Madelene E. Arakelian, Placentia Mayor Norman Z. Eckenrode and engineer Don Payne.