No Endorsement for 46th District

The only truly competitive congressional race this year in Orange County matches incumbent Republican Robert K. Dornan against Democrat Loretta Sanchez.

Dornan prides himself on being a leading Republican accuser of Democratic President Bill Clinton. Too often his comments have been out of line. Last year, they were too much even for a Congress with a new Republican majority. When Dornan accused President Clinton of having given “aid and comfort to the enemy” during the Vietnam War, he was barred from the floor of Congress for 24 hours except to cast votes. It was the first time in two decades that a congressman had been so punished.

In contrast, Sanchez relies on reasoned analysis and facts, not rhetoric, in faulting Dornan for inattention to the needs of the 46th district, which includes parts of Garden Grove, Anaheim, Santa Ana, Tustin, Irvine, Fountain Valley, Fullerton and Orange. She is personable and progressive. Unfortunately, she has no record in public office that might offset her questionable judgment in associating with a disgraced Democratic contributor, convicted of swindling, right into the primary campaign.

Two years ago Dornan said this term would be his last. But he changed his mind, and unfortunately, squandered time he could have spent serving his constituents on a quixotic run for president this year.

Sanchez’s only bid for elective office, a seat on the Anaheim City Council, ended in defeat several years ago. She rightly criticizes Dornan for an “extreme agenda” and for not heeding the concerns of district voters about fighting crime and improving schools. But Sanchez should have distanced herself much sooner from Howard O. Kieffer. She was a business associate and then used his office for her campaign in the March primary. Seven years ago, Kieffer, a Democratic party activist in Orange County, was sentenced to five years in prison for swindling more than $200,000 from the federal government. He had several earlier convictions of financial wrongdoing as well.

Sanchez may be a good candidate, but the issue of sensitivity arising from a past association has to be raised. Voters in the 46th District deserve to have a full measure of confidence in a new representative. We make no endorsement.