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<i> A behind-the-scenes look at Orange County’s political life</i> : Libertarian Lists Reasons Why He May Win Race in 69th Assembly District

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Spoiler’s race?: Arguing that he should not be so easily dismissed in the upcoming race to fill the 69th Assembly District seat being vacated by Democrat Tom Umberg of Garden Grove, Libertarian candidate George Reis lists the following arguments:

“No incumbent. Only 80,000 registered voters. The Latino community leaders currently (are) recommending a ‘no vote.’ ” (Some Latino activists are at war with the Democratic Party leadership that is backing Democrat Mike Metzler, the Santa Ana Chamber of Commerce president. The Republican in the race is Anaheim businessman Jim Morrissey.)

Reis, a photographer for the Newport Beach Police Department, also notes that while Democratic voter registration is now 21 points higher than for Republicans--a three-point increase since the June primary--turnout is expected to be low because this is not a presidential election year.

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“Usually, (Libertarians) get 6% of the vote and come back two years later and do the same thing. With that history, I would ignore us too,” Reis concedes. But this year will be different, he vows. “At best, we could win this race. At worst, we will be the spoiler.”

One Republican activist who did not want to be quoted by name says there is merit to Reis’ argument. He says voters who are against issues like mandatory helmet laws, gun control and the “Save Our State” anti-illegal immigrant initiative could be drawn to Reis.

But the most compelling reason for Democrats and Republicans to break ranks is that “they are upset with the Democratic and Republican parties’ king-making attitudes that exclude activists from the decision-making,” the activist says.

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Non-endorsement: Westminster Councilman Tony Lam, who became the first Vietnamese American elected to public office in the country, has been heavily courted for an endorsement by Democratic candidate Mike Farber, who is trying to unseat Rep. Robert K. Dornan (R-Garden Grove) in the 46th Congressional District in central Orange County.

“I haven’t given him any endorsement yet,” says Lam, a Republican.

Dornan is not likely to get Lam’s endorsement either. (Dornan never requested it, the councilman says.)

Since the council seat is nonpartisan, Lam says he has decided to stay out of the fight. “I better stay neutral because I don’t want to upset my friends.”

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Gutsy candidate: State Treasurer and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Kathleen Brown was welcomed to Orange County last week with news that the Board of Supervisors had endorsed Republican Gov. Pete Wilson. Supervisor Roger R. Stanton says it was “gutsy” for Brown to visit the GOP stronghold.

Brown, however, says she can take the county. “It’s not too hard to be here,” she told a luncheon audience last week. “I am doing all right. I have done all right here before.”

Orange County Democratic Foundation Chairman Wylie Aitken told her not to worry, contending that whenever the supervisors agree on something, they wind up losing. Their endorsement “is a little bit like the kiss of death,” Aitken says.

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GOP campaign strategy: During Brown’s visit to Orange County, the Wilson campaign paraded New Jersey Gov. Christine Todd Whitman before reporters to preview an attack on Brown: that the middle-class theme of her campaign comes right out of a strategy memo written by President Clinton’s pollster, Stanley Greenberg.

The Brown campaign says Whitman’s charge was ridiculous. Brown has been talking about middle-class issues since the start of the campaign.

But the Wilson folks looked like they stole a page from the U.S. Senate campaign of Rep. Mike Huffington (R-Santa Barbara). Days before Brown came to town, the Huffington campaign also accused Democratic rival, U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, of “cribbing her campaign strategy” from the Greenberg memo.

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Maybe he needs a map: Had state Assemblyman Thomas M. Hannigan (D-Fairfield) acted any sooner, there surely would have been hell to pay hundreds of miles away in Lake Forest. Tacked on to obscure state legislation sponsored by Hannigan were guidelines for membership on military base redevelopment agencies in regions where bases are scheduled for closure. According to the new geographic rules, Lake Forest would have been eliminated from membership on the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority’s nine-member governing board.

“Anyone who would exclude Lake Forest just doesn’t understand how this process works. We are the closest community to that base,” Lake Forest Mayor Marcia Rudolph says.

But she can breathe easier. The new rules don’t apply to existing base redevelopment agencies.

UPCOMING EVENTS

* Wednesday: A $250-per-person reception will be held for Marilyn C. Brewer, the Republican candidate in the 70th Assembly District race, at 2920 Cliff Drive in Newport Beach, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

* Thursday: A debate on the proposed airport initiative for El Toro Marine Corps Air Station will be held during a meeting of the Orange County division of the League of California Cities at the Turnip Rose, 300 S. Flower St. in Orange, beginning at 7:15 p.m.

* Thursday: The Newport Harbor Republican Women will hold an open house for its new volunteer headquarters, 4600 Campus Drive in Newport Beach, beginning at 5 p.m.

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* Friday: State Sen. Cathie Wright (R-Simi Valley), a candidate for lieutenant governor, will be the guest of honor at a fund-raiser for Santa Ana City Council candidate Alberta Christy, at the Saddleback Inn, 1660 E. 1st St., Santa Ana, beginning at 11 a.m.

Compiled by Times political writer Gebe Martinez, with contributions from staff writer Kevin Johnson.

Politics ’94 appears every Sunday.

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