Marshal Announces Candidacy for Sheriff

Rep. Loretta Sanchez wants to make one thing clear: She has not endorsed Orange County Marshal Michael S. Carona for county sheriff in 1998.

But Carona, who formally announced his candidacy Friday, wants to make something else clear: The Democratic congresswoman from Garden Grove is supporting him over incumbent Sheriff Brad Gates.

Who’s right? Apparently, both.

The distinction between “endorsement” and “support” may be lost on the voting public, but to politicians it is vital. Often, it is the difference between mere behind-the-scenes backing and a public seal of approval.

Carona, a Republican, had named Sanchez second on his list of endorsements--he used the word “endorsed” explicitly--in his debut news release. That was just behind Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Huntington Beach) and just ahead of state Senate Minority Leader Rob Hurtt (R-Garden Grove).

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The marshal, who is in charge of security in the county’s courts, had worked hard to include Sanchez on that list because her name would give a bipartisan stamp to his effort to unseat Gates.

As of Friday evening, Gates had made no public statement about whether he would seek reelection next year.

Carona said Friday that he discussed his campaign personally with Sanchez two or three times. “I spoke with Loretta, and the congresswoman gave me her support,” he said.

Chagrined at being forced to backtrack, Carona conceded he had only asked Sanchez for her support, not her endorsement. “The issue becomes semantic,” Carona said. “That’s frustrating to me.”

Sanchez press secretary Josie Cabiglio confirmed Carona’s account.

“The congresswoman and others . . . have been talking with him,” Cabiglio said, “but she has not endorsed anyone as of yet. Whether she intends to endorse anyone is up in the air. She is making no moves at this point.”

Cabiglio added: “She did say, yes, that she will support him. But she did not give him any official endorsement.”

Another person on Carona’s endorsement list, Sanchez campaign manager John Shallman, also distanced himself from the marshal Friday. Shallman said it was “premature” to count him as endorsing Carona.