O.C. Legislators Vow to Get Out on Own Terms

Legislators from California’s most conservative county uniformly lamented the repeal of the state’s term-limits law Tuesday at the hands of a federal appellate court. Most vowed to uphold the spirit of the statute, promising to move up or out of their current political posts no matter what the courts say.

Just listen to Assemblyman Jim Morrissey, a Santa Ana Republican and longtime businessman who ran for office on a promise to serve only the three terms he was allotted by the law.

“I thought term limits were the best thing since sliced bread and I still think that,” Morrissey said. “Win, lose or draw, after my final election next year, I’m out.”

Ditto state Senate GOP Leader Rob Hurtt of Garden Grove. Hurtt wasn’t available Tuesday, but a spokesman said the senator believes “the voters don’t like to be second-guessed by the courts. They have confidence in their own judgment and so does Sen. Hurtt.”

Former Assemblyman Mickey Conroy, an Orange Republican, is the only member of the county delegation who served to the final days he was allowed under term limits. Conroy left office in late 1996 but waged an unsuccessful fight during that final year for a seat on the Orange County Board of Supervisors.

Some lawmakers have already made life decisions based in part on term limits. State Sen. John R. Lewis (R-Orange) has launched a part-time career as a political consultant in anticipation of leaving office in two years.

“The voters clearly expressed their desire for limiting the terms of state legislators,” Lewis said. “I will keep faith with the wishes of the people of Orange County.”

Assemblyman Curt Pringle (R-Garden Grove) is also sticking with best-laid plans made before the ruling Tuesday by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. He’ll run for state controller next year, when he would have faced term limits in the Assembly.

But the erstwhile Assembly speaker predicted that many termed-out state lawmakers--particularly Democrats--will use the court decision to justify running yet again next year.

“This has created a window of opportunity for the legislators who otherwise would have fallen within the ban of term limits, allows them one more shot at it while it’s still being decided,” Pringle said. “I think it’s a violation of the will of the people.”

The one Orange County contrarian Tuesday was Assemblywoman Marilyn C. Brewer (R-Newport Beach), who said she supports term limits but isn’t ready to commit to moving on in 2000, when her term would have expired under the cap.

Brewer, however, said she doesn’t believe in “politicians for life” and remains hopeful the Legislature can craft its own version of term limits. “When you begin to lose your edge,” she said, “it’s time to move on.”

Aside from Pringle, only two lawmakers from Orange County faced being forced from office next year by term limits. But both were expected to move on anyway.

State Sen. William A. Craven (R-Oceanside), whose district includes a swath of South County, has long planned to retire in 1998 for health reasons. Assemblyman Bill Morrow (R-Oceanside) is eyeing a run for Craven’s Senate opening.

But term limits have played a role in Orange County political decisions of the past. Sometimes it seemed like musical chairs.

Facing term limits in 1996, then-state Sen. Marian Bergeson ran successfully for county supervisor in 1994. Her move prompted then-Assemblyman Ross Johnson to jump into the vacant Senate seat in a 1995 special election, thus avoiding a 1996 limit to his Assembly career. Johnson ended up beating out two other Republican Assembly veterans from Orange County who faced term limits--Gil Ferguson of Newport Beach and Doris Allen of Cypress.

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O.C. Lawmakers Who Knew Their Limits

Six Orange County legislators were hit by California’s term limitations before the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals struck down the law. Two successfully ran for other offices before being forced out:

Assemblyman Mickey Conroy (R-Orange) Termed out in 1996 and lost county supervisor’s race

Assemblyman Gil Ferguson (R-Newport) Faced 1996 limit; lost Senate race in 1995

Assemblyman Tom Umberg (D-Garden Grove) Faced 1996 limit; lost attorney general race in 1994

Assemblyman Ross Johnson (R-Placentia) Faced 1996 limit; elected to Senate in 1995

Sen. Marian Bergeson (R-Newport) Faced 1996 limit; elected supervisor in 1994

Note: Assemblywoman Doris Allen (R-Cypress) was recalled in 1995 before facing term limitation in 1996

Source: Times reports

Researched by ERIC BAILEY / Los Angeles Times

Change of Plans

Two Orange County assemblymen and a senator would have faced term limits and have made alternative plans. As it now stands, eight other lawmakers who would have been forced out from 2000 to 2004 are now free to run again:

* Assemblyman Curt Pringle (R-Garden Grove) is running for state controller

* Assemblyman Bill Morrow (R-Oceanside) is expected to run for state Senate

* Sen. William A. Craven (R-Oceanside) plans to retire for health reasons

WOULD HAVE FACED LIMITS

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Legislator Branch Year Marilyn C. Brewer (R-Newport Beach) Assembly 2000 Dick Ackerman (R-Fullerton) Assembly 2000 Scott Baugh (R-Huntington Beach) Assembly 2000 Jim Morrissey (R-Santa Ana) Senate 2000 John R. Lewis (R-Orange) Senate 2000 Bill Campbell (R-Villa Park) Assembly 2002 Rob Hurtt (R-Garden Grove) Senate 2002 Ross Johnson (R-Irvine) Senate 2004

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Source: Times reports; Researched by ERIC BAILEY / Los Angeles Times