<i> A behind-the-scenes look at Orange County’s political life</i> : Umberg Backers Keep Trying to Run His Name Up Campaign Flagpole

Tom Umberg was the guest of honor Thursday night at a tribute given by the Democratic Foundation of Orange County. The former assemblyman was being honored for his public service in Sacramento and contributions to the community as a private citizen.

Out of politics at the moment, the Garden Grove resident is often mentioned as a candidate for supervisor in the 1st District, now represented by Roger R. Stanton.

Umberg, however, is not so sure about the idea. “The first question you have to ask yourself is if you really want that job,” he said. “And then, you have to consider whether you really can make a significant contribution.”

Might the 39-year-old Umberg, who bears a striking resemblance to actor Kevin Costner, be interested in other offices. He was under heavy pressure last year to run for Congress against Rep. Robert K. Dornan (R-Garden Grove). Instead, he challenged Atty. Gen. Dan Lungren and lost big.

Umberg said his supporters and financial backers still talk to him about running. “When you invest in a horse, you want to see that horse run again, even if that horse is somewhat reluctant,” he said.

Meanwhile, Umberg is practicing law--doing a lot of litigation work--with the national firm of Morrison & Foerster, out of its offices in Irvine.

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Anathema and cast out: Can’t Orange County Republicans find something positive from the possibility that Assemblywoman Doris Allen (R-Cypress) could be elected Speaker of the lower house, which could happen this week?

After all, she is a Republican from Orange County and would become the first woman Assembly Speaker and first Speaker from the county since 1952 when Republican Sam L. Collins held the post. And she would be replacing Speaker Willie Brown (D-San Francisco), a man most local Republicans love to hate.

No way. Local Republicans are fuming at Allen, who is being cast as a traitor for seeking the backing of Democrats.

Thomas A. Fuentes, chairman of the county Republican Party, said Allen’s dealings with the Democrats would ultimately be bad for the GOP. He also said that Allen, if elected Speaker, would be ousted later this summer.

“I don’t think that to be uniquely the shortest-term speaker and the one Republican selected by Democrats would be anything to hold with pride,” Fuentes said. “The goal of our party is a watershed change in Sacramento and we are not going to have a watershed change when the Speaker is hand-picked by the Democrats.”

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Welcome at the GOP table: While Allen may be making enemies, her colleague in the county delegation, Assemblywoman Marilyn C. Brewer (R-Irvine), is winning kudos from local conservatives.

Brewer was originally considered a moderate who slipped into office last year only because her two Republican challengers split the conservative vote. But she has helped her cause among local Republicans recently by hiring a new chief of staff, Roger Fiola, a man considered much more conservative than Kate Keena, whom he replaced.

“She has been a very pleasant surprise,” said Howard Klein, a lawyer and conservative Republican activist who backed one of Brewer’s rivals. “She is a team player, someone who works hard and has been very good on fiscal, tax, business and regulatory matters. . . . I don’t see any groundswell of support for a serious primary challenge against her.”

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A Connecticut Yankee: It may not have been King Arthur’s Court, but Rep. Gary A. Franks (R-Conn.) was hosted Thursday morning at a gathering of the Orange County Republican Party at the Sutton Place Hotel.

The three-term member of the House, who identified himself as the first black Republican elected to Congress in 60 years, told how he “dispelled the idea” in Connecticut that “white people wouldn’t vote for a black person” and that blacks won’t vote for a Republican. “They will,” he said, “if you represent their ideas and principles.”

Franks is a hard-line conservative in a state once known for its liberal Republicans. He won election to his southwestern Connecticut district after serving as an alderman in the city of Waterbury. He said he tells young people his secret to success is “you have to be willing to work hard . . . and believe in God.”

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Here’s Ury: Frank Ury, a member of the Saddleback Valley Unified School District board of trustees, is the latest candidate in the race for 71st Assembly District, to be vacated next year by Mickey Conroy (R-Orange).

In his 2 1/2 years on the five-member board, Ury, a 31-year-old Republican, has gained a reputation as one of its most conservative members. Decentralizing government will be a key element of his campaign, he said.

“What we need are conservatives in office who are going to push for true educational reform and true economic reform,” Ury said. Other candidates in that race are former Orange Mayor Jim Beam and Lake Forest Mayor Richard T. Dixon.

UPCOMING EVENTS

* Tuesday: Fund-raiser for Tustin City Councilman Jeffery M. Thomas, 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Orange County Mining Company. Call (714) 434-2718.

* Wednesday: Breakfast with Popejoy: Sponsored by the Newport Harbor Area Chamber of Commerce at 7:30 a.m. Balboa Bay Club, 1221 West Coast Highway. $19. Call (714) 729-4400

* Wednesday: Measure R debate: UCI Associate Prof. Mark Petracca, opposing the initiative, and Jim Wood, publisher of the Coaster, in favor of Measure R. 5:30 p.m. Hosted by Speak Up Newport at the Villa Nova Restaurant, Newport Beach. $20. Call (714) 542--4226.

* Wednesday: Orange County Forum hosts Senate President Pro Tem Bill Lockyer telling “A Tale of Two Deficits: Orange County and the state of California.” Noon. (714) 588-9884. Hyatt Regency, Irvine.

* Wednesday: Committees of Correspondence meeting. 7-9:30 p.m. City Hall in Orange. 300 E. Chapman. (714) 650-1537.

* Thursday: The Orange County Democratic Party’s inaugural Harry S. Truman Recognition Dinner with Owen Bieber, international president of the United Auto Workers. Anaheim Hilton & Towers at 6:30 p.m. Call (714) 835-5158.

Politics ’95 was compiled by Times staff writer Len Hall with contributions from Times political writer Peter M. Warren and correspondent Jeff Bean.

Politics ’95 appears every Sunday.