DECISION ’94 : Congress: ORANGE COUNTY

The Los Angeles Times sent questionnaires to candidates for congressional office asking them about themselves and posing several questions. Here are the questions:

* Do you favor or oppose development of a commercial airport at El Toro Marine Corps Air Station?

* Do you favor or oppose a federal ban on semiautomatic assault weapons?

* Do you favor or oppose curtailing health care and/or education benefits for illegal immigrants?

* Please list two other issues you think are important to voters.

(Only candidates in contested primaries are listed here. For a complete ballot see Page V12 .)

41ST CONGRESS DISTRICT

(Anaheim, Brea, Placentia, Yorba Linda and parts of Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties)

*

REPUBLICAN PRIMARY

Ronald L. Curtis

Age: 47

Occupation: Mining engineer and chairman of Curtis Tungsten Inc.

Background: Vietnam veteran; has filed legal complaints against government agencies to protect operation of his tungsten mine.

Issues: Airport--Favors development of a commercial airport at El Toro. Guns--No position on gun ban. Illegal immigrants--Favors curtailing benefits. Other issues--Favors four-year term limits for Congress; believes “American dream has been taken away by our born and raised career politicians.”

*

Bob Kerns

Age: 38

Occupation: President of Amerivest Financial Group

Background: 1986 Republican nominee for 26th Congressional District in Los Angeles County; frequent Republican campaign staffer and volunteer who participated in the 1992 Buchanan for President drive; life member of National Rifle Assn.

Issues: Airport--Favors commercial airport. Guns--Opposes a ban. Illegal immigrants--Favors cutting benefits, wants increase in border patrols and construction of “stronger physical barriers” to stop illegal immigration. Other issues--Favors life sentences after third violent felony conviction.

*

Jay C. Kim

Age: 55

Occupation: Incumbent

Background: First Korean American elected to Congress; served as mayor and councilman in Diamond Bar as well as on other civic boards; former president and founder of Jaykim Engineers.

Issues: Airport--No position, believes it is a decision for local government. Guns--Opposes federal ban. Illegal immigrants--Favors curtailing benefits. Other issues--Wants to revitalize state economy and supports “more stringent measures to control rampant violent crime.”

*

Valerie Romero

Age: 30

Occupation: Executive vice president, Oremor Management and Investment Co., a family-owned business.

Background: Board member of Assistance League of Pomona Valley; past volunteer for state and national Republican campaigns.

Issues: Airport--No position, believes it is a decision for local government. Guns--Opposes federal ban. Illegal immigrants--Except for medical emergencies, opposes “federally mandated” health or education services. Other issues--Wants to eliminate capital gains tax and re-establish investment tax credit to spur job growth; supports school choice.

*

Todd R. Thakar

Age: 36

Occupation: Attorney specializing in municipal finance

Background: Former special assistant to regional administrator of U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in Reagan Administration; staffer for then-U.S. Sen. Pete Wilson.

Issues: Airport--Leaning in favor of a commercial airport. Guns--Supports a federal ban. Illegal immigrants--Favors curtailing benefits. Other issues--Wants disclosure of candidates’ tax returns in previous two years and ban on taxpayer-funded newsletters during an election year; favors strengthening victims’ rights.

DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY

Ed Tessier

Age: 26

Occupation: Businessman involved in urban redevelopment and property management

Background: Pomona planning commissioner; member of Pomona Central Business District and Pomona Arts Colony Business Assn.; board member of disability/senior citizens advocacy groups.

Issues: Airport--No position. Guns--Favors federal ban. Illegal immigrants--Favors increasing control of borders but opposes curtailing benefits. Other issues--Wants to “reduce local regulatory barriers to business.”

*

Richard Waldron

Age: 55

Occupation: Attorney Background: Worked for welfare agency to pay his way through law school; former state prosecutor; experienced in labor relations and an advocate of organized labor.

Issues: Airport--Favors development of commercial airport. Guns--Supports federal ban and limits on ammunition and magazines in sports weapons. Illegal immigrants--No position on curtailing benefits, but favors employer sanctions for hiring illegal immigrants. Other issues--Government must “buy only products made by U.S. labor”; favors spending $100 billion to build high-speed rail lines throughout United States.

46th CONGRESS DISTRICT

(Anaheim, Garden Grove, Santa Ana, Stanton, Fountain Valley, Westminster, Irvine, Orange and Tustin)

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DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY

Madelene E. Arakelian

Age: 60

Occupation: Owner of trash hauling business

Background: Not available

Issues: Airport--Opposes development of airport. Guns--Favors federal ban. Illegal immigrants--Favors curtailing benefits. Other issues--Wants to redirect current revenue to pay for anti-crime programs without raising new revenues; favors tax credits and other economic incentives to help start-up businesses.

*

Robert John Banuelos

Age: 41

Occupation: Senior citizens counselor

Background: Won primary for same seat in 1992; volunteer for Santa Ana Unified School District “Stay in School” program, 1990 Census, 1986 Amnesty program for immigrants, and citizenship program sponsored by Hermandad Mexicana Nacional.

Issues: Airport--Favors a commercial airport, with existing housing to be used for homeless and working poor. Guns--Supports federal ban. Illegal immigrants--Opposes curtailing benefits. Other issues--Wants to improve the economy and find solutions to crime problem.

*

Norman Z. Eckenrode

Age: 56

Occupation: Restaurant owner and mayor of Placentia

Background: Four-time Placentia council member; former chairman of Juvenile Committee of Orange County; past member of Girl Scouts board of directors; current chairman of Boy Scouts of America, north Orange County district.

Issues: Airport--Favors development of commercial airport. Guns--Supports federal ban. Illegal immigrants--Favors curtailing health benefits except in emergencies. Other issues--Crime is biggest issue; wants residents, merchants and police to work together to reduce crime rate.

*

Mike Farber

Age: 33

Occupation: Businessman

Background: Founded real estate brokerage and trade company in San Diego and later began civil engineering firm; 1992 Democratic nominee for congressional seat now held by Rep. Ron Packard (R-Carlsbad); served as state director for Concord Coalition.

Issues: Airport--Favors development of commercial airport, along with industrial zone for transportation manufacturers and boot camp for first-time criminal offenders. Guns--Favors federal ban and background checks for buyers. Illegal immigrants--Opposes curtailing benefits for illegal immigrants. Other issues--To deal with crime, wants to consider boot camps for first-time offenders; favors free-enterprise zones and capital gains tax cuts for new businesses.

*

John M. Ivler

Age: 35

Occupation: Systems analyst

Background: Works for computer services company; owns small consulting business; former collection agency manager; volunteer for national Democratic Party campaigns.

Issues: Airport--Opposes development of commercial airport. Guns--Opposes federal ban, but supports right of states to ban firearms. Illegal immigrants--Opposes curtailing benefits for illegal immigrants. Other issues--Favors increasing personal tax exemptions; wants police forces to encourage officers to live in communities they protect.

*

Don Payne

Age: 64

Occupation: Engineer

Background: Active in numerous civic and church-related activities; past campaigner for statewide initiatives and in local political races; marathon runner.

Issues: Airport--Believes issue is not a concern of district voters and that it is too early to make decisions about what to do with the base. Guns--Favors curtailing, but not banning, semiautomatic assault weapons. Illegal immigrants-- Opposes curtailing benefits. Other issues--Favors health care reform that provides universal coverage while allowing patients to choose own doctors; wants all legislation scrutinized for impact on worker productivity and the economy.

47th CONGRESS DISTRICT

(Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, Anaheim, Costa Mesa, Irvine, Leisure World, North Laguna Hills, Mission Viejo, Orange, Tustin, Villa Park and Lake Forest)

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REPUBLICAN PRIMARY

Christopher Cox

Age: 41

Occupation: Incumbent

Background: Elected to Congress in 1988; attorney; former senior associate counsel to President Reagan from 1986 to 1988; Cox and father founded a company that translated to English the former Soviet Union newspaper Pravda.

Issues: Airport--No position on development of airport, but believes land should be put up for auction, with bidders offering proposals on best use. Guns--Favors a federal ban only on fully automatic weapons. Illegal immigrants--Introduced bill to end welfare and social services to illegal immigrants. Other issues--Supports repeal of federal laws that mandate appeals for convicted criminals and has introduced bill to alter the federal budget process to reduce spending.

*

Steven J. Frogue

Age: 51

Occupation: High school teacher

Background: Trustee in Saddleback Community College District; ran for Congress in 1992; former Eagle Scout and Marine; volunteer with Scouts and youth sports leagues.

Issues: Airport--Opposes development of airport, believing federal government might not follow through on closing the base. Guns--Opposes federal ban. Illegal immigrants--Opposes curtailing benefits. Other issues--Supports bringing police and military forces “under stronger civilian control”; opposes NAFTA.

48th CONGRESS DISTRICT

(Southern Orange County, including Dana Point, Laguna Niguel, Mission Viejo, San Juan Capistrano, San Clemente and parts of San Diego County)

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REPUBLICAN PRIMARY

Ed Mayerhofer

Age: 29

Occupation: Realtor

Background: Was candidate for same office in 1992.

Issues: Airport--Favors development of commercial airport. Guns--Opposes federal ban. Illegal immigrants--Favors curtailing benefits. Other issues--Favors more parental involvement in education; believes all U.S. citizens “deserve the right to access affordable health care.”

*

Ron Packard

Age: 62

Occupation: Incumbent

Background: Elected to Congress in 1982; dentist; former school board member; Carlsbad councilman and mayor.

Issues: Airport--Opposes developing a commercial airport at El Toro because he says it is not the best site to fill the region’s needs. Guns--Opposes federal ban. Illegal immigrants--Authored amendment to earthquake relief bill that excluded illegal immigrants from receiving long-term disaster assistance, except for emergency medical care, and believes that should be the standard for all aid. Other issues--Favors Republican alternative to Clinton health plan; wants to eliminate federal regulations that are burdensome to business.