<i> A behind-the-scenes look at Orange County’s political life</i> : Prince, a Former Aide to Martinez, Seeks Seat Dornan Will Vacate

A former Democratic congressional staffer will seek the seat held by Rep. Robert K. Dornan (R-Garden Grove), who is seeking the Republican nomination for President. Jim Prince, who has worked for Rep. Matthew Martinez (D-Alhambra) and on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, announced his candidacy last week in Dornan’s 46th Congressional District in central Orange County. Prince may face a primary battle with Democrat Mike Farber, who lost a bitter campaign against Dornan last year.

Prince, who lives in Santa Ana and is a consultant for human rights groups, said he doesn’t expect a big primary fight. “I am looking ahead to the general campaign,” he said. Prince serves on the executive board of the Orange County/Long Beach Anti-Defamation League. He plans four fund-raisers from June to September in California and Washington, and hopes to raise $600,000. “If I don’t, I’m not running,” he said.

*

Bad timing? Everywhere Marian Bergeson served she won praise, first as a Newport-Mesa Unified School District trustee, then as a member of the Assembly and state Senate.

Then, she became a county supervisor, a month after the county’s investment portfolio crashed.

Bergeson was asked last week during a visit to Irvine City Hall if she had any second thoughts about her latest career challenge.

“I don’t regret it,” she said. “There are times I become rather frustrated, but it’s a great challenge. In fact, a lot of these things would never happen if we didn’t have this kind of a crisis.”

So calamity provides an opportunity for innovation and positive change?

“As long as we accept that responsibility,” she said.

*

Here’s Roger: In recent weeks, County Supervisor Roger R. Stanton has felt the burden of the bankruptcy ease a bit. He said as much last week while chatting inside Antonello Ristorante, the posh eatery popular with the county’s political and business elite.

Stanton described the first two months after the bankruptcy as extremely difficult, with none of the supervisors sure how the county could get out of its dark tunnel of debt. The public was angry, and he felt besieged.

Now, the mood is changing, he said, as he told of being greeted during a Saturday trip for plumbing supplies to Home Depot. “People came over seven times and said positive things,” he said.

“It is like getting touched by a ray from heaven,” he said, recounting the story. “It was just an uplifting experience.”

Stanton, who has kept his own counsel about the half-cent sales tax measure, said Friday that he will take a position before the June 27 election.

He gave this assessment of the public mood: “The average man and woman in the street isn’t feeling (the bankruptcy) now. . . . There isn’t a feeling that we have done everything we can do.

“I am not reluctant to express my skepticism on this (recovery plan),” he said, adding that he wished county Chief Executive Officer William J. Popejoy would come up with an alternative in case the sales tax loses at the polls.

Stanton said “a rational course of action for the county” would be to develop some alternatives in the next several weeks. He said he would consider those plans, Measure R and the “Plan B” proposed last week by Supervisor Marian Bergeson. “The one that looks most palatable we will get behind,” he said.

*

Friends of Dannemeyer: A conservative Orange County group has begun a push to get former GOP Rep. William E. Dannemeyer of Fullerton to run for state Sen. Ross Johnson’s now-vacant seat in the Assembly’s 72nd District.

The Orange County Coordinating Republican Assembly, a group of representatives of the county chapters of the archconservative California Republican Assembly, adopted a resolution last week, urging Dannemeyer to run, said Steve Brody, the group’s immediate past chairman.

“It’s nothing negative about the others seeking the Johnson seat,” Brody said. “It’s just that none of them would get 50% of the vote outright, like Dannemeyer would. He knows the district, he knows the landscape. With Dannemeyer, we could avoid a runoff election and get another Republican in the Assembly that much sooner.”

*

Oh Willie: The announcement last week that Assemblywoman Doris Allen (R-Cypress) will seek the Assembly’s top leadership spot elicited an interesting reaction the other day from the current officeholder, Democratic Speaker Willie Brown.

“It’s an interesting candidacy,” said Brown, who is expected to announce plans soon for mayor of San Francisco. “I think Doris Allen is as qualified as any of the rest of the members to be Speaker. Would I support her under any circumstances? I don’t want to damn her.”

Lest anyone assume Brown is getting all mushy about Allen, the man who has jokingly called himself “the Ayatollah of the Assembly” and “Speaker for Life” added an important caveat: “I could probably vote for almost any of the Republicans” if it was a tactical move that ended up “leaving me as Speaker.”

UPCOMING EVENTS

* Wednesday: Orange County Treasurer-Tax Collector John M.W. Moorlach speaks to the Laguna Niguel Republican Women Federated at 10 a.m. at Michael’s Supper Club, 24399 Dana Drive, Dana Point. For information, call (714) 499-2437. There is $2 charge for the speech and $13 for lunch.

* Thursday: Orange County Young Republicans have planned a 6:30 p.m. mixer at Mediterraneo Restaurant (formerly Delaney’s), 630 Lido Drive, Newport Beach. For information, call (714) 675-0100 or (714) 754-5955.

Compiled by Times political writer Peter M. Warren, with contributions from staff writers Eric Bailey and Len Hall.

Politics ’95 appears every Sunday.