<i> A behind-the-scenes look at Orange County’s political life</i> : FBI Answers Charges of Political Harassment in Investigation of Coe

An old wound from last year’s Proposition 187 campaign was reopened on Capitol Hill last week when House Republicans questioned whether the FBI had intimidated initiative leader Barbara Coe of Huntington Beach.

During a House Judiciary subcommittee hearing, Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner Jr. (R-Wis.) grilled Assistant Atty. Gen. Deval Patrick about the FBI’s handling of a Voting Rights Act complaint filed by Latino political activists before last November’s election.

Latino leaders had warned that Coe and a few Republicans allegedly planned to monitor Santa Ana polling places on Election Day. A similar incident in 1988 resulted in the local GOP paying an out-of-court settlement after it was accused of intimidating voters. But no incidents were reported last Election Day.

Demanding an apology, Sensenbrenner said the Justice Department’s probe of Coe “was selective, and it was coercive.” Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Huntington Beach), said “the FBI should not be used as a political tool to harass the political enemies of a liberal, Democratic Administration.”

But Patrick didn’t apologize, claiming the matter was routine and already finished. “The voting rights section and the FBI did exactly what they were supposed to do,” Patrick said. “I do not have any reason to believe that Mrs. Coe was treated rudely or inappropriately in any way.”

*

Secession talk: The appointment of John Wayne Airport Director Jan Mittermeier as interim county CEO has added fuel to the fire of a possible secession of South County from Orange County at large, Irvine Councilman Greg Smith said.

South County cities, including Lake Forest and Irvine, have threatened a secession since the county declared bankruptcy last December. Officials in the south have charged that the county favors North County cities and have filed a lawsuit against the Board of Supervisors over their willingness to plan a commercial airport at the El Toro Marine base when it closes in 1999.

“This is not a reflection of Jan Mittermeier’s abilities, but it looks to us on the surface that this was a business-as-usual appointment,” Smith said. “What will really tell the story is who the permanent [CEO] will be.”

For the moment, Smith said disenchanted South County city officials are taking a “wait-and-see stance.” But watch out.

“If we don’t see anything but the status quo, and if we see efforts to take money from the cities to pay for the county’s problems, then I think you’ll see efforts to remove ourselves from the county renewed with a vengeance,” Smith said. “We’re just waiting to see the results. There needs to be a commitment to restructuring that we haven’t seen.”

*

Cash contribution: One of the surprises in the July 10 vote that nixed California American Water Co.’s attempted hostile takeover of the Santa Margarita Water District was Supervisor Jim Silva’s last-minute abstention.

Silva, one of seven board members on the Local Agency Formation Commission, the panel that oversees district dissolutions and annexations, found out at 10:30 that morning that his vote might be a conflict of interest, according to his aide, Marcus Larson.

Silva had in April accepted a $750 contribution from Nossaman, Gunthner, Knox and Elliott--an Irvine-based law firm that lobbied hard for California American--and decided he must abstain, Larson said.

“[Silva] was very disappointed because he had put in a lot of time considering this,” Larson said. “We had been meeting with both sides for months. Larson declined to say how Silva would have voted. Silva did not return calls to his office for comment.

*

Trial balloon: Moderate Orange County Republican Phil Yarbrough has set up an exploratory committee for a possible run for the 46th Congressional District seat now held by Rep. Robert K. Dornan (R-Garden Grove).

Because Dornan promised during the 1994 campaign not to seek a 10th term and is currently running for the 1996 GOP presidential nomination, Yarbrough said he is ready to determine how much financial and political support he can muster.

Dornan has said he will decide this fall whether to pull out of the presidential race, seek reelection or find another job.

“Bob Dornan is not the enemy. The enemy is crime and unemployment and an education system that needs help,” said Yarbrough, a Santa Ana resident who works at a local bank and teaches economics at Rancho Santiago College.

Yarbrough is also the former Orange County Coordinator of the Concord Coalition, a bipartisan group seeking a balanced federal budget, and is counting on support from the moderate California Republican League of Orange County.

*

Quotes of the week: “[President Clinton] totally caved in to Jesse Jackson. He has given Jesse Jackson his greatest victory on the eve of this new presidential election . . . “ Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Huntington Beach) in a televised debate with Jackson on CNN’s “Crossfire” over Clinton’s decision to “mend” but not end affirmative action programs.

Jackson’s response: “I think it’s a bit ridiculous to make this personal . . . What [Clinton] tried to do was to connect us to our history and away from all of the hysteria.”

UPCOMING EVENTS

Today: An “Alan Keyes for President” fund-raiser will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Mesa Verde Country Club in Costa Mesa, followed by a rally at Mile Square Park in Fountain Valley. Information: Karen Walker at (714) 673-4654.

Thursday: The Orange County Young Republicans will have their July mixer at 6:30 p.m. at the Cannery Restaurant in Newport Beach. Information: (714) 754-5955.

Thursday: Irvine Co. Chairman Donald L. Bren will host a fund-raiser for the Pete Wilson for President campaign at 6 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Irvine. Information: Betty Presley or Wendy Cantor at (714) 540-0461.

Compiled by Times staff writer Len Hall, with contributions from staff writer Gebe Martinez and correspondent Russ Loar.