GOP Assemblymen to Run for Capps’ Seat in House

Republican Assemblymen Brooks Firestone and Tom J. Bordonaro Jr. announced their candidacies Thursday for the House seat of Democrat Walter Capps of Santa Barbara, who died last week.

Firestone, 61, a Los Olivos winery owner and member of the wealthy Firestone Tire and Rubber Co. family, became the first candidate to enter the special election for the Central Coast seat.

In doing so, Firestone, a moderate, abandoned his fledgling campaign for lieutenant governor.

Several hours later, fellow GOP Assemblyman Bordonaro of Paso Robles, who represents an adjoining district, abruptly disclosed his candidacy for the House seat.

“I’m in the race,” Bordonaro said in an interview. “I want to provide a clear choice for the constituents of the 22nd Congressional District. I think the district needs a Reagan-conservative representative.”

Bordonaro, 38, the only quadriplegic in the Legislature, called Firestone an “honorable man and a friend” and voiced hope that “we don’t have a bloody Republican primary.”

Capps, a former college professor who was narrowly elected to Congress last year, collapsed and died of a heart attack while en route to Washington on Oct. 28.

Gov. Pete Wilson must soon call a special election to be held next month or in January. If no one wins outright, a runoff will be held in February or March.

Firestone said he believes the special election will be Jan. 13 but did not indicate why he thinks so. In any case, it will be difficult for candidates to capture the attention of voters during the holiday season. Firestone said he believes he can serve his constituents better in Congress.

His departure from the lieutenant governor’s contest leaves other Republicans to seek the nomination, including state Sens. Tim Leslie of Carnelian Bay and Richard Mountjoy of Arcadia, both of whom have announced their intentions. Assemblyman Charles S. Poochigian (R-Fresno) is also believed to be looking at the race.

The 22nd Congressional District includes San Luis Obispo County, which is considered conservative, and part of Santa Barbara County, which is more moderate.

The district is evenly split 41% to 41% between Republicans and Democrats. Of the remaining electorate, the largest group--12%--is not aligned with any party, but its wild card votes can play a critical role in the outcome.

Last year, President Clinton lost the district to Republican Bob Dole by a margin of 44% to 44.2%.

A Republican victory would mean recapturing a seat that had been in GOP hands for decades until Capps won it by 10,000 votes in 1996. If a Democrat won, House Speaker Newt Gingrich would suffer a new setback as he attempts to shore up a GOP majority that was weakened in last year’s general elections.

In the past week, there has been plenty of talk about potential Democratic contenders, but none has emerged as a candidate. Party sources said Capps’ widow, Lois, will be the favorite if she runs.

A spokeswoman said Lois Capps “is dealing with her grief” and has not yet talked about entering the race. A Democratic Party strategist identified her as “almost as revered in the district” as her husband.

Other Democrats mentioned as possible candidates include state Sen. Jack O’Connell of Santa Barbara and former state Sen. Gary Hart, also of Santa Barbara. An aide to O’Connell said the lawmaker is discussing a possible run with friends but has made no decision. An associate of Hart, now a college professor, said Hart will not run.

The Democratic strategist said the special election will be difficult for a Democrat to win, noting that the independently wealthy Firestone and the GOP can be expected to pour major sums into the race.

“This is going to be tough for Democrats,” the strategist said. “We have to figure out how to win the special [election] and then come back and win again in the fall [for the full two-year term]. . . . It was a tough seat for the Democrats to get and very tough to hold.”

Firestone said he had been urged to run by former President Gerald Ford and Gingrich, a development widely regarded as an effort to clear the field of other potential GOP contenders. “That was compelling,” he said of the calls. But he sought Thursday to dispel any notion that his candidacy was ordered by national Republican leaders.

He said there is talk that Mike Stoker, chairman of the state Agricultural Labor Relations Board and a former Santa Barbara County supervisor, and Atascadero physician Rene Bravo may run again. Both were unsuccessful candidates in the 1994 Republican primary.

Former Rep. Mike Huffington has said he will not run again for the seat, which he held earlier.