<i> A behind-the-scenes look at Orange County’s political life</i> : Schuller Makes Inroads at the White House Via a Visit With Clinton

A relationship may be developing between the Rev. Robert M. Schuller, televangelist and pastor of Garden Grove’s Crystal Cathedral, and President Clinton, two men who have often chatted on the phone but who met for the first time last week.

The meeting was set up on Christmas Eve, when Schuller called Clinton to offer best wishes for the holidays, said Michael Nason, the reverend’s spokesman. Schuller had dinner at the White House on Monday, had a private tour with the President, spent the night in the Lincoln Bedroom and shared a prayer with Clinton, although the reverend “didn’t say what they prayed about,” Nason said.

Schuller has an interest in eliminating the national debt and 12 years ago wrote a book on the subject, “The Power of Being Debt Free,” a copy of which he gave to Clinton, Nason said. “(Clinton) said he’d read it on the plane” to California, Nason said.

“Bob went to the White House because he has a great respect for the presidency of the United States . . . and felt it was a great opportunity to be with the President,” Nason said.

In a day and a half in Washington, Schuller also met with House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Senators Bob Dole (R-Kan.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah), Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) and Mark Hatfield (R-Ore.), Nason said.

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Official and unofficial: With the Proposition 187 movement having been founded in Orange County, it comes as no surprise that two of the county’s congressmen have been named to a bipartisan task force on immigration reform.

Reps. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Huntington Beach) and Ed Royce (R-Fullerton) are among 18 House members named to the committee, which is scheduled to conduct its first meeting this week with Gingrich.

In fact, Californians make up one-third of the task force membership, with Texas, the other major border state, getting only one representative on the panel.

Rohrabacher’s selection comes during a time in which he has found increased visibility in the national media as one of the unofficial spokesmen against affirmative action programs. In recent weeks, he has been featured on national radio and television programs, speaking in favor of a proposed 1996 ballot initiative aimed at dismantling the state’s affirmative action programs.

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Recall fervor: It’s not only the County Board of Supervisors or Assembly members Ross Johnson (R-Placentia) and PaulHorcher (I-Diamond Bar) who are sweating out recalls. The recall bandwagon is also circulating in Cypress, a city that was politically torn in 1993 by a proposal for legalizing a card club, and is now being divided by a carpet warehouse.

Ever since the City Council unanimously approved the 440,000-square-foot warehouse and distribution center at 11400 Valley View St., which would allow 24-hour trucking, residents in the area have been in an uproar. While council members maintain the business will generate a tax base, the angry residents insist the constant flow of trucks will ruin the environment and depress property values.

A recall petition targeting Mayor Cecilia L. Age and Councilwoman Gail H. Kerry, which needs about 4,500 signatures, is being circulated. “The response we’re getting has been strong in favor of the recall from people all over the city,” said Tony Smith, a recall leader.

Age, however, remains confident. “The proponents of this recall are asking us to turn our back on 30 years of planning and progress,” she said.

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Hurtt’s handicap: Here’s how state Sen. Rob Hurtt (R-Garden Grove), known as a kingmaker in state politics, handicaps the upcoming 35th Senate District race: “I’d say Ross (Johnson) has the resources to win the race, but he still has a long row to hoe,” Hurtt said recently. “It’s still an advertising campaign for him at this point.”

Hurtt called Assemblywoman Doris Allen (R-Cypress) the favorite, followed by former Assemblyman Gil Ferguson and then Johnson. Allen may be starting slowly, but she has just won endorsements from the California Teachers’ Assn. and a state nurses group. “Doris hasn’t been active, but she is extremely popular and has name identification,” Hurtt said. “Looking at it on the surface, she’s the winner. I would rank her higher than Ferguson at this point, but Johnson is putting out a lot of mail.”

UPCOMING EVENTS

* Monday: The candidates running for the 35th state Senate District seat will be guest speakers at the Republican Central Committee meeting at 7 p.m. at the Westin South Coast Plaza Hotel, 686 Anton Blvd., Costa Mesa. Information: (714) 556-8555.

* Thursday: A fund-raiser is planned for the Doris Allen for Senate campaign from 6 to 9 p.m. at the John Dominis Restaurant, 2901 W. Coast Highway, Newport Beach. Information: (714) 842-6959.

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Politics ’95 appears every Sunday. Items can be mailed to Politics ‘95, 1375 Sunflower Ave., Costa Mesa, CA 92626, or faxed to (714) 966-7711.

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Money Magic

Rep. Robert K. Dornan was easily the fund-raising champ of the Orange County congressional delegation last year. He also spent the most. Fund-raising for calendar year 1994 by the county’s six Republican congressmen:

Funds Funds Cash Congressman raised spent on hand Christopher Cox $246,944 $132,937 $360,975 (Newport Beach) Robert K. Dornan 1,679,960 1,653,913 106,509 (Garden Grove) Jay Kim (Diamond Bar) 693,127 677,091 28,946 Ron Packard (Oceanside) 128,120 147,100 101,979 Ed Royce (Fullerton) 197,541 262,829 4,686 Dana Rohrabacher 131,411 159,785 43,888 (Huntington Beach)

Source: Campaign finance reports; Researched by LEN HALL / Los Angeles Times