<i> A behind-the-scenes look at Orange County’s political life</i> : Dornan Commemorates Battle While County’s Fighting Off Creditors

Off to Europe: As the financial world collapses around Orange County, where is Rep. Robert K. Dornan (R-Garden Grove)? He shipped off last week to Europe, apparently as a guest of the secretary of the Army, for ceremonies commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge.

Dornan’s aides went ballistic when it was suggested he might be needed at home during these increasingly dark days for the county. After all, Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) came to the county to help.

“We have done everything Orange County has asked us to do,” said Joe Eule, Dornan’s chief of staff in Washington. “For people to suggest we are ignoring the situation is flat out wrong. This really isn’t a federal matter, and there really isn’t a lot we can do anyway.”

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Another first: Much has been made of the gains made by Latinos in November’s local elections. In Santa Ana, Miguel A. Pulido Jr. became the county seat’s first Latino mayor, while in Anaheim and San Clemente, Lou Lopez and Steve Apodaca, respectively, each became his city’s first-ever Latino councilman.

But another landmark for diversity in Orange County occurred in Lake Forest, where Kathy McCullough became the first African American elected to a City Council, according to records kept by the League of Cities. McCullough, who runs the Adopt-A-Neighbor food bank in Mission Viejo, said her ethnicity was never a part of her campaign.

“I didn’t run because I am black or because I am a woman,” McCullough said. “I ran because my neighbors asked me to run and then put their trust in me as their representative.”

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Stalemate City: Anaheim’s four City Council members--two of whom were elected on Nov. 8--have waxed eloquent in the last few weeks about how they intend to work together. But, so far at least, nothing could be further from the truth.

In their first meeting last month, the panel couldn’t agree on how to increase golf course fees at the two municipal golf courses, despite the fact the plan would raise city revenue by $160,000 annually.

Then, last week, council members deadlocked on who should fill a vacant seat on the council, with a 2-2 tie on a motion to appoint third-place finisher Shirley McCracken. If no decision is made by late January, the city will have to hold a special election at a cost of $100,000. With that election unlikely before June, council-watchers fear it could be a cold, indecisive winter for important city issues.

“It could mean total paralysis,” said former councilwoman Miriam Kaywood. “There is no way that this city would be able to function during the most crucial time that this city has ever been through.”

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Gil and Paul: Local Republicans have heaped part of the blame for the defection of Assemblyman Paul Horcher (I-Diamond Bar) on former Assemblyman Gil Ferguson. They say Horcher’s recent decision to become an independent and vote for Willie Brown over Jim Brulte (R-Rancho Cucamonga) as Speaker of the Assembly was based on Ferguson’s advice.

Ferguson acknowledges that he told Horcher to get the best deal he could get. He also said he doesn’t blame Horcher, who was reelected Nov. 8 as a Republican, for turning his back on Brulte.

“Horcher was beat up for two years. No man can take the insults he took for two years without retribution,” Ferguson said.

Ferguson, who left the Assembly to seek the state Senate seat being vacated by County Supervisor-elect Marian Bergeson, now offers some more advice on how to break the stalemate over the speakership: Brulte should step aside for the good of the party and allow another Republican to run, someone Horcher would support.

“They could settle this whole thing tomorrow morning,” Ferguson said. “The people’s business is a hell of a lot more important than who should be Speaker. . . . But step aside? Politicians don’t do that.”

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Fighting trim: With a run for the state Senate looming, Assemblyman Ross Johnson (R-Placentia) has done what all good candidates do--he’s lost weight.

Capitol denizens were surprised to see Johnson return from vacation in early December looking far sleeker than when he left. Most assumed Johnson had slimmed down in anticipation of his duel with Ferguson and Assemblywoman Doris Allen (R-Cypress) for Bergeson’s Senate seat.

But don’t bother asking Johnson what’s up with it. An aide said Johnson won’t comment on the weight loss, or the Senate race.

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Passings: Cecil Green, the state lawmaker from Norwalk who represented a piece of Orange County during the late 1980s, died this month at age 70.

Green, a Democrat, was elected to the state Senate in a special election in 1987 that helped keep the Democrats in command of the upper chamber during a nip-and-tuck struggle with Republicans. The two parties poured $2.6 million into the contest, making it the most costly Legislative race in the history of the state up to that point.

Green was reelected in 1988, but his district was carved up in the 1990 reapportionment, and he left the Legislature in 1992.

Green was elected to the Norwalk council in 1974 and served as councilman until he left for the state house. Before that, he worked in a variety of capacities--as a carpenter, a construction contractor, a licensed commercial pilot and flight instructor. Green also worked with Fotomat Corp. on planning and zoning problems during the 1970s and early ‘80s. He is survived by his wife, Mary, and a daughter.

Compiled by Times staff writer Len Hall, with contributions by staff writers Eric Bailey and Greg Hernandez and correspondent Frank Messina.

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