Metzler Changes Mind, Withdraws Support for Immigration Initiative

Don’t read my lips: Mike Metzler, a candidate for the 69th Assembly District, has become the second Democrat in that race to reverse his position on a proposed initiative to bar illegal immigrants from public hospitals and schools.

During a recent taping of KOCE-TV’s candidates debate, Metzler and fellow Democrats, Santa Ana Councilman Ted R. Moreno and John M. Patterson, said they support the “Save Our State” initiative that is proposed for the November ballot. Zeke Hernandez was the only candidate to oppose it.

Moreno--endorsed by most of the Latino Assembly members--received angry calls from Latino leaders. A few hours after the debate, he changed his position, saying he had not fully understood the initiative.

But it took Metzler several days to change his mind, now saying he only supports laws aimed at curbing illegal immigration. A spokeswoman said the change had nothing to do with the fact that Assemblyman Louis Caldera (D-Los Angeles), who endorsed Metzler, opposes the initiative.

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And skip the fine print: Nearly 90,000 campaign brochures being handed out by Dan C. Dutcher, an Orange County municipal judge in Westminster, boast the endorsement of the “district attorney” in the June 7 election.

Problem is, Orange County Dist. Atty. Michael R. Capizzi hasn’t endorsed Dutcher, who is being challenged by prosecutor Caryl Lee and Seal Beach attorney Barry S. Brown. Dutcher apologized to Capizzi and said the typographical error occurred during the printing process. It should have read, “district attorneys,” in reference to county prosecutors.

Dutcher said he cannot afford to reprint the flyers and is considering adding the “s” by hand. “Nobody can think this is any type of effort to mislead people,” Dutcher said.

But attorney Bruce Bridgman, who is running Lee’s campaign, thinks otherwise. “To intentionally distribute such a misleading brochure would be a fraud on the public. It would show a complete lack of integrity and contempt for the voters,” Bridgman said.

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Not in my back yard: In the 70th Assembly District race, Republican Barry J. Hammond recently mailed out a scary-looking brochure that shows a dark-haired man pointing a handgun straight at the reader. The caption states: “He’s been arrested 28 times. He has seven felony convictions. He just got out of prison . . . and he’s in your neighborhood.”

He apparently is not in Hammond’s neighborhood, however. On the back of the brochure, Hammond, an Irvine councilman, takes credit for his city’s rating as “one of the top 10 safest communities in the entire United States.”

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‘No’ on airport? The Irvine Co., the largest landowner around the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station, has been mum on whether it wants a commercial airport there when the military leaves. But the company wants Hammond, the strong anti-airport candidate in the 70th Assembly race--donating $6,000 to the campaign.

But Hammond’s largest single contributor is the Allied Business PAC, a small group of conservative businessmen, including state Sen. Rob Hurtt (R-Garden Grove), which has given $7,500, plus $108,358 for mailers, research and other services.

Weighing in: Assemblymen Tom Umberg (D-Garden Grove) in the 69th District and Gil Ferguson (R-Newport Beach) in the 70th District are leaving their seats to seek other offices. But they have made their picks in key June primary races.

Ferguson, who identified his most favorite candidates with asterisks, chose incumbent Gov. Pete Wilson, but with no asterisk. He gave three asterisks to Jim Silva in the hot 2nd District county supervisorial seat and to Thomas G. Reinecke, who is his chosen successor. Ferguson also loaned Reinecke $20,000 for his campaign.

On the Democratic side, Umberg is backing State Treasurer Kathleen Brown for governor, Linda Moulton Patterson for 2nd District supervisor, and Metzler to succeed him in the Assembly. Umberg didn’t lend Metzler any money, just political connections.

UPCOMING EVENTS

* Tuesday. This is the last day to apply for an absentee ballot for the June 7 primary.

* Wednesday. Backers of the proposed November initiative calling for the development of a commercial airport at the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station plan to submit more than 100,000 signatures to the registrar of voters.

* Wednesday. Republican Business and Professional Women Federated host a candidates night, 41 Cape Cod, Irvine, beginning at 6 p.m. There is a $15 fee.

Most Republican Counties

Democrats and Republicans plan to mount major voter registration drives in Orange County soon after the June 7 primary. Democrats will focus on central Orange County while Republicans will try to increase their overall dominance. Orange County has the lowest Democratic registration of any county in the state. Top 10 Republican counties of California:*

County Republicans Orange 52.3% Sutter 49.8 Inyo 48.7 Placer 46.9 Nevada 46.8

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County Republicans El Dorado 46.0% Riverside 45.7 Kern 45.6 Mono 45.2 San Diego 45.1

* As of April 8

Source: Orange County registrar of voters

Compiled by Times political writer Gebe Martinez, with contributions from staff writer Rene Lynch and researcher April Jackson.

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