Two Consider Running for Sanchez’s Seat

Far from California’s golden coast, two prominent Orange County Republicans were seen on Capitol Hill Wednesday, presumably in search of the same pot of political gold: the GOP nomination for the congressional seat now held by Democrat Loretta Sanchez.

Openly displaying her interest in the seat once held by Robert K. Dornan was Orange attorney Lisa Hughes, who is being escorted around Republican power circles by her pollster, John McLaughlin.

Less conspicuous was state Assembly GOP Leader Curt Pringle (R-Garden Grove), officially in town to discuss legislative issues with Republican members of the California congressional delegation.

Pringle, who says he will leave the Assembly after 1998--no matter what the courts rule on the term limits law--acknowledges at this point only that he is “considering” a run for Congress.

There is increasing speculation among other Republicans, however, that Pringle will run if Dornan decides not to make another try.

And so far, Dornan--who has asked the House to call a special election, claiming Sanchez’s victory was the result of voter fraud--is keeping everyone guessing.

“Keep in mind Bob Dornan has made clear he’s running in the special [election],” said his attorney Michael Schroeder, assuming Dornan wins his appeal before the House. “He’s also made it clear he’s not running in 1998.”

But only a couple of weeks ago, Dornan himself hedged on whether he planned to run in the next primary.

“That is too far away to even think about,” he said. “I fully believe Loretta is going to be asked to step aside [by the House this year]. Frankly, what I want is to run again when this past election is rerun.”

Hughes and Pringle barely missed bumping into each other Wednesday at the National Republican Campaign Committee offices.

Hughes, a 48-year-old family law practitioner and certified public accountant, has never before run for public office. But she said she plans to spend $500,000 of her own money on her campaign and has hired McLaughlin, who worked for Steve Forbes’ presidential campaign last year.

She believes that Dornan will run, but Pringle will not.

“I cannot see Dornan not running,” Hughes said, blaming Dornan for losing what she still considers a “Republican” seat despite the changing demographics of the central Orange County 46th Congressional District.

“[Sanchez] did not win that seat; Bob Dornan lost it,” Hughes said during an interview. “He ignored his constituents and spent his money on a ludicrous presidential race.”

Pringle, meanwhile, said the purpose of his trip to Washington was to discuss federal issues, such as new welfare reform rules, with members of Congress.

“While I’m here, I have an opportunity to say hello to people who are encouraging me to explore the congressional office,” Pringle said. “I’m considering it.”

He said he would leave it to others to speculate whether he will eventually decide to run for Congress.

As the Assembly’s GOP leader, Pringle added, “I have a job to do. I’m going to continue to do it and work on issues related to California. I’ll worry about [future political races] later.”

On the Democratic side, Sanchez brushed aside the early maneuvering by Republicans for her seat.

“It’s a free country,” she said of the early campaigning. “My job is to do the work of the people here. I am not campaigning. I am not politicking.”