<i> A behind-the-scenes look at Orange County’s political life</i> : They Won’t Put Dornan Down as Undecided, but Challengers Can’t Wait

After postponing the decision several times, Rep. Robert K. Dornan (R-Garden Grove) says he might announce Wednesday or Thursday--while campaigning for President in New Hampshire--whether he will also seek reelection to his central Orange County district.

Dornan, 62, said last week that he will stay in the presidential derby at least until the Delaware primary, which is Feb. 24.

At least one challenger in his 46th Congressional District is no longer holding his breath while the veteran conservative makes up his mind about running again for Congress. Ralph Yarborough, a Republican, has set his own campaign kickoff rally for Saturday in Santa Ana.

“I started up the campaign, got ready to go and, when Dornan was unsure, I waited out of respect for him.” Yarborough said. “I can’t wait anymore.”

Yarborough, 35, is an economics professor at Rancho Santiago College and a financial analyst at American Savings Bank.

“I am not out to dig on the congressman,” said Yarborough, but “I am committed to running this race.”

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A Democrat too: There is already a challenger to Dornan on the Democratic side. Jim Prince, who runs a consulting business, has been campaigning for several months and has received advice and support from the White House.

Prince, 33, was a Democratic staffer to two California representatives on Capitol Hill, ending his stint there in 1994, when he worked for the Foreign Relations Committee.

During a visit to Orange County last month, President Clinton spent a few minutes offering Prince some counsel on taking on Dornan. The discussion at the Tustin Marine Corps Helicopter Air Station touched on crime, jobs and absentee representation, Prince said.

The 46th District is the only one in the county where Democratic voters outnumber Republicans.

“The challenge is turnout,” Prince said. “You have to have the money to get our message to the voters, to get people to the polls.” Prince said he has raised about $95,000 so far.

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Coming in November: Most Orange County polling places will be dark on Election Day, Nov. 7, but there are two places where there will be balloting.

In the Orange Unified School District, there will be a contest for two seats on the Board of Trustees.

The city of Cypress is holding a recall election against Mayor Cecilia L. Age and council members Walter K. Bowman and Gail H. Kerry. Cypress voters also will consider nine advisory measures.

The deadline for registering to vote is this Tuesday. Absentee voters may apply by mail for ballots until Oct. 31. Emergency applications may be requested in person through Election Day.

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Out of the picture: Speaker Pro Tem Doris Allen (R-Cypress) also faces a recall election; hers is on Nov. 28. Gearing up for the contest, Allen picked a new consultant last month to run her campaign, replacing Allan Hoffenblum of Los Angeles with Mike Abernathy of Sacramento.

A spokesman for Allen’s office said she found some support among the delegates who attended the state Republican convention in Palm Desert last weekend.

While the delegates voted overwhelmingly to endorse the recall, Allen hosted a hospitality suite on two nights that also was well attended. Forces on both sides of the recall said that many of those in attendance were “simply there to run up the liquor bill.”

Allen had the last laugh, according to several. “Doris got her camera out at one point and said, ‘Let’s have a picture with all my supporters,’ ” recounted spokesman Steve Brody. “And like a bat out of hell, these guys raced for the door.”

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Putting on the gloves: The many battles between Laguna Niguel Councilman Eddie Rose and Mayor Mark Goodman have been epic, but now it appears that council watchers can look forward to an undercard.

Councilwoman Janet Godfrey, who sat between Goodman and Rose in the cross-fire, recently asked for and received permission to move her seat on the council dais away from Rose.

Godfrey and Rose had crossed swords over a recent vote on a controversial housing project, in which Godfrey provided the vote needed for approval.

When Rose accused Godfrey at a public hearing last month of trading her vote for future political considerations, the normally mild-mannered Godfrey threatened to “sock” him.

Shortly afterward, she came to Goodman and “expressed a desire to move, and I didn’t think it was an unreasonable request,” the mayor said.

UPCOMING EVENTS

* Wednesday: Orange County Young Republicans hear Kathy Woods from the committee to recall Judge Everett W. Dickey at their general meeting at 6:30 p.m. at North Bluff Park, Community Room, Vista Suarte, Newport Beach. Information: (714) 754-5955.

* Wednesday: Balboa Bay Republican Women Federated hear state Sen. Ross Johnson (R-Newport Beach) speak at 11 a.m. Information: (714) 962-5982.

* Thursday: Cypress City Council candidates and targets of the recall election appear at a forum at 7 p.m. at the Ramada Plaza Hotel, 5865 Katella Ave., Cypress. Information: (714) 892-9469.

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Voter Registration

46th Congressional District, as of Aug. 25

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Party Number Percentage Republican 60,697 41% Democrat 70,949 48% Others 17,048 11% Total 148,694 100%

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Source: County of Orange

Compiled by Times political writer Peter M. Warren, with contributions from staff writer Gebe Martinez and correspondent Frank Messina.

Politics ’95 appears every Sunday.