No Sparks Flying in the 71st District

Assemblyman Bill Campbell (R-Villa Park) is taking his four opponents seriously, but he’s not exactly on the attack.

Campbell, first elected to the Assembly in 1996, says he wants to serve a third and final two-year term in Sacramento.

“I’ve tried to represent the district as best I could,” Campbell, 57, said this week as he hurried to a legislative committee meeting. “I’ve tried to reach out to all aspects of the community to make sure that I knew what issues were important to them.”

Campbell’s 71st District covers a large chunk of eastern Orange County--from Villa Park south to San Juan Capistrano. The district also includes Orange, Mission Viejo, Lake Forest, Portola Hills, Trabuco Canyon, Rancho Santa Margarita, Coto de Caza and portions of Irvine.

The primary issue gripping the 71st is Orange County’s planned conversion of the former El Toro Marine base to an international airport. The base and surrounding neighborhoods are in the district.

Campbell, who opposes the airport, is the only incumbent legislator from Orange County facing a challenge from within his own party. His opponent in Tuesday’s Republican primary is Gary C. Beck, a Christian mediator and former National Rifle Assn. lobbyist.

Beck said he is not running because of any disagreement with Campbell. The two talked when Beck first entered the race, and Beck said he told the assemblyman that he felt competition was healthy.

“He agreed. He was a perfect gentleman about it,” Beck said.

Whoever wins Tuesday’s primary will have a big edge in November, because Republicans have a 2-to-1 advantage over Democrats. With more than 240,000 registered voters, the 71st is the largest Assembly district in the county.

Three other candidates are unopposed on the March 7 ballot and automatically advance to November: Democrat Bea Foster, 62, of Tustin, a longtime activist; Brian Lee Cross, 38, chairman of Orange County’s Libertarian Party; and Natural Law candidate Brenda Jo Bryant, 44, of Santa Ana.

Beck said he’s running because of his plan to turn the El Toro base into a 5,000-acre state park with an amphitheater, softball fields, picnic grounds and plenty of open space. He says he would use his skills as a mediator and former lobbyist to secure the property.

“I would be in a place to take a leadership role,” said Beck, who grew up in the district. “I’ve worked with Democrats and Republicans and with the federal government. Lobbying would be a big part of it. You have to pull people together. I’m the kind of guy who could do it.”

The state could acquire the land, the upfront costs paid from the state’s multibillion-dollar surplus so Orange County residents wouldn’t have to pay higher taxes, Beck said.

“His idea is nice, but I don’t believe it would get out of the first committee up here in Sacramento,” said Campbell, a veteran of legislative wars. “Orange County has a powerful lobbying machine.”

Campbell says Orange County voters should decide the issue without involving officials in Sacramento.

Campbell had collected $209,000 in campaign funds by Jan. 22, the most recent report received by the state. That includes $40,000 that Campbell borrowed from himself four years ago during his first run for office. In contrast, Beck’s campaign account consists of a $10,000 loan from the Navy Federal Credit Union and nearly $300 that he and his wife donated. Beck said he has posted signs throughout the district.

Beck said that if voters send him to Sacramento, he will also champion the rights of gun owners.

Campbell said he wants to continue his efforts to improve education in California. Last year Campbell was honored as Legislator of the Year by the California School Board Assn.

He is the co-sponsor of a bill, AB1734, that would grant vouchers to small-business owners who have fewer than 25 employees to provide health care coverage for their low-wage workers.

“The voucher would have to be spent on health insurance here in California,” Campbell said. “We are all concerned about health coverage for the working poor.”

In addition, Campbell said the state should take some of its estimated $10-billion state surplus to build school facilities, highways, parks and water systems.

In the 1950s, California spent nearly a fourth of its general fund dollars on such capital projects. “Last year, it was less than 0.07%,” Campbell said. “That’s not nearly enough. We have to get back to making that kind of an investment in our, and in our children’s, future.”