Disagreement Awfully Stark for Bedfellows

The last place you’d expect to find ranting against the Rev. Lou Sheldon would be in literature of the California Young Americans for Freedom.

The grass-roots conservative group long has been allied with Sheldon and his Traditional Values Coalition over the issue of abortion, which they both staunchly oppose for any reason.

But Orange County leaders of the state YAF painted a big red target on Sheldon’s forehead in a recent press release announcing the group’s support of Proposition 5, which would preserve casino-style gambling on Indian land.

Characterizing Sheldon as a “self-appointed keeper of morality,” YAF Vice Chairman Darin Henry of Laguna Beach blasted him for joining those who have “climbed in bed with Nevada gambling mobsters” to oppose Proposition 5.

The vitriol dumbfounded folks at the Traditional Values Coalition headquarters in Anaheim. Sheldon said he’s not surprised to be a target because he’s been vocally opposed to the measure. He acknowledged that Las Vegas casinos have donated to No on 5 because they see Indian gambling as competition.

“I have no problem if Las Vegas wants to help us keep Las Vegas in Las Vegas,” Sheldon said Saturday at the state Republican convention.

YAFers also remain upset with Sheldon for endorsing Republican candidate Lisa Hughes of Orange in the June primary against YAF favorite Robert K. Dornan, the conservative former congressman. Sheldon also backed winning U.S. Senate primary candidate Matt Fong over the more conservative Darrell Issa, a San Diego businessman in his first run for office.

The group’s support for Proposition 5 hasn’t stopped with the Sheldon attack.

Last week, its Liberty Torch political committee mailed a slick, four-color brochure urging conservatives to support the initiative. It featured photographs and statements backing Indian sovereignty by the late Sen. Barry Goldwater and former President Reagan. (Reagan’s office says he hasn’t taken a position on Proposition 5.)

Brian Park of Orange, the group’s state chairman, said Indian tribes gave YAF an in-kind donation for the mailer, which he said cost “six figures.” It was mailed to 500,000 high-propensity Republican voters statewide.

Matt Zandi of Mission Viejo, YAF’s national vice chairman, was coy about how much money tribes have given the group, which usually has to pitch in for beer money. Spending reports covering the last three months are due to be filed Oct. 5 with the secretary of state’s office.

But YAF failed this weekend to persuade the GOP to support a resolution backing Proposition 5. While Atty. Gen. Dan Lungren, a gubernatorial candidate, opposes the measure, the rest of the GOP nominees persuaded the party to stay neutral, calling it an intertribal dispute.

Why are YAFers so active in supporting Indian gaming? It’s a nod to the group’s libertarian streak, Park said.

“With gaming, established by treaty and acts of Congress, Indians are providing jobs for their people and non-Indians alike--without government assistance,” he said.

Paying Up and Trying to Live It Down

Fine mess: The county Democratic Party grudgingly has paid $1,000 to the state Fair Political Practices Commission for failing to report a $10,000 contribution in 1996 accepted by then-party Chairman Jim Toledano for a mailer supporting Democratic primary congressional candidate Jim Prince. Toledano, of Newport Beach, paid $500 of the total $1,500 fine.

The commission faulted the party and Toledano for failing to report the contribution--from Prince’s sister--as an independent expenditure. The mailer urged voters to support Prince and Assembly Democratic nominee Lou Correa.

Prince lost the June 1996 primary to now-Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-Garden Grove). Correa lost in the subsequent general election to Assemblyman Jim Morrissey (R-Santa Ana), whom he’ll face again this fall.

Democratic Party Chairwoman Jeanne Costales wasn’t happy about having to pay the state fine, especially since Toledano admitted accepting the money, depositing it into a second bank account that he created and spending it on the mailer without informing other party officials.

“He went to great lengths to hide it from us,” Costales said.

Toledano previously has admitted that he made a mistake.

On top of the fine, the party has paid $6,000 for an attorney to unwind the reporting mess. Still pending is a possible fine from the Federal Elections Commission. The mailer also wasn’t reported to the FEC, which oversees reporting for congressional races.

Musical Fund-Raiser Looking Successful

In concert: Only the priciest tickets at $200, or obstructed-view seats at $40 per, remain available to hear singer Jackson Browne in a fund-raising concert Oct. 7 for Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-Garden Grove) at Chapman University.

The 7 p.m. concert in the university’s Memorial Auditorium caps a two-year effort by Sanchez forces to organize a concert by Browne, who got his musical start in Orange County.

The event is expected to boost Sanchez’s already impressive $1-million campaign treasury. A similar political fund-raising concert by Browne and singer Bonnie Raitt in 1996 for Rep. Walter Capps (D-Santa Barbara), who died earlier this year, netted about $40,000.

Registration deadline: The last day to register to vote for the Nov. 3 general election is Monday, Oct. 5. The Orange County registrar of voters office will stay open that day from 8 a.m. to midnight. It is at 1300 S. Grand Ave., Building C, in Santa Ana. The phone number is (714) 567-7600.

Compiled by staff writer Jean O. Pasco, who covers politics for The Times. She can be reached at (714) 966-7712 or by e-mail at Jean.Pasco@latimes.com. Information can be faxed to Campaign Journal at (714) 966-7711.