DECISION ’94 : Judiciary / City Hall: ORANGE COUNTY : SUPERIOR COURT <i> (Countywide seat)</i>

Barbara (Tam) Nomoto

Age: 44

Occupation: Judge, Municipal Court in Santa Ana

Background: Only Asian American woman on the local bench and youngest California judge ever to be appointed when she took office in 1979. Previously, she handled civil litigation and tax planning as an attorney and worked locally and in Los Angeles as deputy county counsel. Teaches criminal procedures and constitutional law at UCI.

Issues: Says judges must be tough on crime, but also be compassionate when necessary. Says her diverse background is a plus: “My experience in civil and criminal law would make me a good choice for the Superior Court.”

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Gary P. Ryan

Age: 50

Occupation: Judge, Municipal Court in Santa Ana

Background: Elected to the bench in 1978. Worked in the legal unit of the Los Angeles Police Department while in law school, then spent six years as an Orange County prosecutor specializing in writs and appeals. Teaches at a state judges school and at Western State University College of Law in Fullerton.

Issues: Says a judge cannot fight crime alone. “But by showing a no-nonsense philosophy, a judge can help to set the tone for other judges to follow. I’m a family man and I care very much about what’s happening in this county.”

MUNICIPAL COURT IN LAGUNA NIGUEL

(Includes Laguna Niguel, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Lake Forest, Mission Viejo, Dana Point, San Clemente and unincorporated areas)

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Pamela L. Iles

Age: 49

Occupation: Presiding Judge, Municipal Court in Laguna Niguel

Background: Appointed in 1983. Previously worked as a deputy public defender and deputy district attorney specializing in the prosecution of sex crimes and child abuse cases. Has received numerous awards--including the prestigious Governor’s Victim Service Award--for work on behalf of abused children and rape victims.

Issues: Answering her opponent’s campaign slogan that a change is needed, Iles says, “Why should you change experience and competence for inexperience?”

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John C. Connolly

Age: 51

Occupation: Attorney

Background: General practice includes criminal and family law; also has handled probate, personal injury and civil cases, and complex litigation. Served 14 years on board of trustees of Saddleback Community College in Mission Viejo before losing reelection in 1992. Ran unsuccessfully for Mission Viejo City Council seat four years ago.

Issues: “The main reason I decided to run is because it’s time for a change. I have more experience in a broader area of the law.”

MUNICIPAL COURT IN WESTMINSTER

(Includes Westminster, Cypress, Fountain Valley, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, Los Alamitos, Seal Beach, Stanton and unincorporated areas)

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Daniel Charles Dutcher

Age: 63

Occupation: Judge, Municipal Court in Westminster

Background: Elected in 1982. Was previously a sole practitioner in criminal defense. Has several awards, including 1992 Constitution Rights Foundation Judge of the Year. Lectures on law at Rancho Santiago and Golden West colleges.

Issues: Says there is “only one issue in this election, 12 years of experience versus zero experience.” Endorsed by more than 90 Orange County judges and commissioners. Says his goal is “getting cases taken care of as quickly and as fairly as I can.”

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Caryl Lee

Age: 37

Occupation: Deputy district attorney

Background: A civil litigator for three years before joining the district attorney’s office five years ago. As a prosecutor, has coordinated misdemeanor appeals and juvenile, domestic violence and drunk driving cases.

Issues: Says she knows “firsthand how the judicial system can be manipulated in favor of criminals” and would fight for “stricter sentencing and more efficiency.” Says victims feel cheated twice--once by the defendant, and then by the system.

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Barry S. Brown

Age: 39

Occupation: Attorney

Background: Private practice includes civil and business law. Has served several stints as a pro tem judge in traffic and small-claims court in Orange and Los Angeles counties. Also worked as a prosecutor in Washington state.

Issues: Says he would strive for fairness, and that the greatest compliment “comes when the parties in my court believe that they were treated fairly--even if they lose.” Says too many defendants refuse to face the consequences of their conduct.

MUNICIPAL COURT IN SANTA ANA

(Includes Santa Ana, Tustin, Orange and unincorporated areas)

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Claude E. Whitney

Age: 63

Occupation: Judge, Municipal Court in Santa Ana

Background: Appointed in 1989. Previously worked as a private family law attorney. Currently faces misconduct charges filed by the Commission on Judicial Performance for allegations he denied attorneys to people appearing in his court and violated other constitutional rights. The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights also is reviewing allegations.

Issues: Denies allegations; says he is being targeted by defense attorneys who oppose his tough sentences and no-nonsense attitude on the bench. “I believe in running an efficient courtroom and making sure everyone gets a fair and impartial trial.”

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Dennis Patrick O’Connell

Age: 44

Occupation: Criminal defense attorney

Background: Teaches at Western State University College of Law. Has handled many high-profile criminal cases, including defense of an Anaheim school janitor mistakenly jailed on rape charges until DNA tests proved his innocence.

Issues: Has made the state investigation of Whitney a main campaign issue. Endorsed by theOrange County District Attorneys Assn. “The question is what should be done when a judge doesn’t follow the rules. We cannot let the public lose confidence in the court system.”

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

DANA POINT CITY COUNCIL

The Los Angeles Times sent questionnaires to candidates for the Dana Point City Council 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 increasing development in Dana Point?

* Do you favor or oppose the purchase of property on the Headlands to preserve open space?

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

3 to be elected

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Addison H. DeBoi

Age: 43

Occupation: Engineer/ businessman

Background: Director, Capistrano Beach County Water District; former president of Capistrano Beach Community Assn.; three-year member of Traffic Improvement Commission

Issues: Opposes civilian airport at El Toro, opposes increases in local building density. Favors more aggressive policing to combat crime; favors controlling illegal immigration by enforcing housing occupancy limits.

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Toni Gallagher

Age: 46

Occupation: Small-business owner

Background: Co-founder of Save the Headlands; former director of Capistrano Bay Park and Recreation District; vice chair of city economic development committee

Issues: Favors vote on commercial airport at El Toro for neighboring communities only. Believes Dana Point has less open space than neighboring cities. Favors purchase of as much Headlands land as possible; favors local vote on Headlands plan.

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Ron C. Hascall

Age: 44

Occupation: Local businessman

Background: Five-year chairman of San Juan Capistrano Fiesta Assn.’s Ways and Means Committee

Issues: Opposes commercial airport at El Toro. Wants development of retail town center project; favors current plan for the Headlands hotel/residential development. Believes important local issues are crime and uniting the three communities that make up the city.

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Harold R. Kaufman

Age: 52

Occupation: Small-business owner

Background: Former city planning commissioner; former president, Dana Point Civic Assn.; member of Dana Point United

Issues: Opposes commercial airport at El Toro. Wants to revitalize downtown Dana Point. Favors citywide bond initiative to purchase Headlands property to keep in open space; favors strong policing of Lantern Village area; favors using bed taxes to promote tourism.

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Karen Lloreda

Age: 47

Occupation: City councilwoman

Background: Council member for four years; former two-year president of Capistrano Beach Community Assn.

Issues: Believes commercial airport and other alternatives for El Toro should be evaluated. Would support purchase of more Headlands property by citizens group or conservancy. Believes city must find new revenue sources for police services and wants policies to stem illegal immigration enforced at the Mexican border.

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Bob Moore

Age: 70

Occupation: Businessman/justice adviser

Background: Member of executive committee of Dana Point Citizens for Incorporation; co-founder of Coastal Taxpayers for Local Control

Issues: Opposes commercial airport at El Toro; opposes new taxes to purchase land on Headlands. Wants police services strengthened; wants to help federal officials stop illegal immigration.

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Witold Muller

Age: 57

Occupation: Business property management

Background: Six-year member of the Dana Point Chamber of Commerce; three-year member of the Dana Point Merchants and Professionals Assn.

Issues: Opposes a commercial airport at El Toro. Favors purchasing more land on the Headlands for open space if citizens want it. Believes the city needs a self-sustaining local economy and a more visible police force.

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Ernest A. Nelson

Age: 57

Occupation: Consulting engineer

Background: Member of Dana Point Chamber of Commerce; member of Lantern Village neighborhood steering committee

Issues: Opposes commercial airport at El Toro. Favors a bond measure to purchase more Headlands property; favors stronger local enforcement of immigration laws.

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David Pytleski

Age: 39

Occupation: General contractor

Background: Nine-year Dana Point resident

Issues: Favors commercial airport at El Toro; favors controlled development in Dana Point. Believes City Council can negotiate open space at the Headlands. Wants to make recycling voluntary and wants council to better respond to what citizens want, not personal beliefs.

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Bill Shepherd

Age: 47

Occupation: Businessman; community volunteer

Background: President of the board of directors of Lantern Village Assn.; two-year member of city’s business improvement task force

Issues: Believes county needs commercial airport at El Toro but could be negative to the city. Favors revitalizing city’s older residential and retail areas. Believes current Headlands plan is a reasonable compromise. Favors fiscally conservative local government.

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Robert D. Wilberg

Age: 52

Occupation: Land technician

Background: Former director of Capistrano Bay Park and Recreation District; chairman of city Park and Recreation Committee

Issues: Opposes commercial airport at El Toro; opposes increased development in Dana Point. Favors preserving more of the Headlands property from development; believes the Headlands and crime are most important local issues.

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Lloyd M. Woerner

Age: 55

Occupation: Consultant

Background: 13-year director of Dana Point Sanitary District; former member Dana Point Specific Plan Board of Review

Issues: Opposes commercial airport at El Toro; opposes high density residential projects; opposes new taxes for purchasing Headlands property. Favors restudying trash collection service; favors city taking over water-related special districts.

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Photo of West Municipal Court candidate Barry S. Brown was unavailable