Grisham’s State Senate Campaign Gets a Shake-Up

SACRAMENTO —  Senate Republican leaders on Wednesday said they have taken steps to shake up the management of Norwalk Assemblyman Wayne Grisham’s suddenly uphill campaign in a special state Senate election that they consider crucial to their party’s future.

They have replaced Grisham’s day-to-day consultant and enlisted political heavyweights Stuart K. Spencer and Kenneth L. Khachigian as part-time volunteer consultants. They also retained Houston-based Lance Tarrance, pollster for Gov. George Deukmejian’s reelection.

“We’re really making a clean sweep and trying to bring in the best and the brightest,” said Sen. John Seymour (R-Anaheim), the Senate GOP caucus chairman. “This is win or lose.”

Crucial to GOP

Grisham, a former congressman, was regarded as the clear favorite in the eight-candidate March 17 primary in the 33rd Senate District, which covers parts of suburban southeastern Los Angeles and northwestern Orange Counties. Instead, he finished second to Democrat Cecil N. Green, a Norwalk city councilman, 48% to 44%, setting up a runoff election on May 12. Two minor party candidates also will be on the ballot in the contest to fill the unexpired term of former Sen. Paul Carpenter (D-Norwalk), who was elected to the State Board of Equalization.

Republicans regard the election as a key test of their ability to take control of the Senate in 1990 and gain a voice in the legislative redistricting that will follow the 1990 census. Democrats now outnumber Republicans 23 to 15, with one seat held by an independent and one vacant.

On Monday, the campaign took on more importance as dissident Senate Republicans, angry at Grisham’s poor showing, threatened their two top leaders--Republican floor leader James W. Nielsen of Rohnert Park and Seymour--with dismissal.

The attempt was temporarily suspended only after Seymour agreed to step down from his leadership post after the May runoff election.

Deukmejian, who has campaigned on Grisham’s behalf, also views the contest as a critical test of Republican strength.

At a Capitol news conference on Wednesday, the governor said he was “obviously very interested in seeing that a Republican pick up that seat.”

‘We’d Better Win It’

Just last week, he said he warned Republican leaders that “we’d better win it.” He also acknowledged that Republican Senate leaders had sounded him out about finding new people to help Grisham, but he declined to disclose his advice.

The most prominent member of Grisham’s new campaign team is Spencer, a longtime campaign consultant and personal adviser to President Reagan. Spencer said he would provide general advice on a voluntary basis but steer clear of campaign details.

Khachigian, President Reagan’s favorite speech writer and a key adviser in Deukmejian’s reelection, said the details of his role are under discussion. “I give free advice all the time,” he said.

Seymour said the day-to-day campaign consultant will be Steve Presson, a Sacramento-based consultant. He replaces Tony Marsh, also of Sacramento, who handled Grisham’s primary campaign.

Grisham to Take Over

Grisham, meanwhile, said he would become more active himself in campaign strategy. “I’m going to take the role of running the show,” he said.

Grisham said he was upset to learn that on Election Day Democrats were better organized, citing how Green’s campaign mobilized cars equipped with cellular telephones to get voters to the polls. Said Grisham: “We were doing things in the horse-and-buggy style and they were (in the) jet age.”