40th District Race Is One for Bookish and Not So Bookish

Nathan Rosenberg’s campaign slogan in recent weeks has been, “read my book,” a reference to the 80-page volume covering his life and political positions that was sent to voters in the 40th Congressional District.

It is a campaign tactic that isn’t likely to be copied by C. Christopher Cox, one of Rosenberg’s main rivals in the June 7 GOP primary. Cox, who served two years as a White House employee, doesn’t take kindly to the “kiss and tell” best sellers by former Reagan Administration officials.

Cox labeled books like the one written by former Chief of Staff Don Regan, in which he revealed that First Lady Nancy Reagan consulted an astrologer, as “unseemly, at best.”

Cox, former senior associate White House counsel, said he would urge future Presidents to require all presidential appointees to sign a contract promising not to write a book “based on confidential information obtained during the course of their service.”

But what if Cox did write a book about his White House days? What would it say?

“It would say that Ronald Reagan is the best President we have had in this century,” Cox said. “That’s the truth.”

In Orange County, in the midst of a campaign, that is also a politically smart answer.

Not that President Reagan asked, but several candidates in the GOP primary in the 40th Congressional District have issued some unsolicited advice lately on how to deal with Panamian Gen. Manuel Antonio Noriega.

Judging by the remarks, nobody is too interested in picking up Noriega’s endorsement.

One of the front-runners in the race, Irvine Councilman C. David Baker, said Noriega has “embarrassed us. . . . We should never have tried to negotiate with him. It only gave him what he wanted--attention.”

Peer Swan, another Republican in the race, called Noriega a “reprehensible character” and described the State Department’s handling of the affair “a major foreign policy botch.” Swan, a Tustin resident, said it is was “incredibly naive” to think that Noriega would turn himself in after he was indicted by a federal grand jury for drug smuggling.

“He’s down there thumbing his nose at us,” Swan said.

Rosenberg went a step further when asked how to handle Noriega since the United States was unable to remove him from power through negotiated settlement.

“We have no business negotiating with that man,” Rosenberg said at a recent candidates’ forum. “I think we ought to turn Mr. Noriega over to the CIA. . . . It would save us a lot of time, money and embarrassment.”

Charges and counter-charges have been leveled in recent weeks by the GOP candidates in the 40th Congressional District about political signs being torn down by their opponents. One candidate even went to the headquarters of a political rival and eyeballed his opponent’s staff, trying to find someone who matched the description of the suspected sign remover.

But this week, a new chapter unfolded in the “Sign Wars” drama.

Newport Beach attorney William Yacobozzi Jr. filed a complaint with the Huntington Beach police accusing the Cox campaign of taking down Yacobozzi signs and replacing them with Cox’s along Beach Boulevard in Huntington Beach. The complaint alleges that a Yacobozzi campaign worker spotted an employee of Rome Enterprises, a San Jose-based sign company hired by Cox, putting up Cox’s cardinal and gold placards in place of Yacobozzi signs.

“Our guy saw him do it only minutes after our signs went up,” Yacobozzi said. “It was remarkable.”

Yacobozzi, who hired a private investigator to look into the May 26 incident, said the Rome employee was questioned by his campaign worker, but not detained.

A complaint was then filed with police. A Huntington Beach police spokesman said the department would look into the matter. But, he added, “it’s the political season, you know, and everyone is pointing fingers. It’s hard to make these things stick.”

In a jab at Cox and Oliver L. North who has endorsed Cox, Yacobozzi said: “It is easy to see why he and Ollie North get along so well.”

The Cox campaign declined to comment directly about the allegation. But Cox’s Sacramento political consultant, Carlos Rodriguez, did say:

“We have far more important things to worry about than William Yacobozzi.”

Beginning Monday, the first of three shows with candidates in the 40th Congressional District will be aired on Orange County’s public TV station KOCE-Channel 50. Because there are 16 candidates in the race, including two Democrats and two minor party candidates, the shows will be shown on three successive nights at 7:30.

Monday’s show will feature, Republicans C. David Baker and C. Christopher Cox, and Democrats Lida Lenney and George Margolis.

On Tuesday, the show will feature, Adam W. Kiernik, Patricia G. Kishel and Kathleen B. Latham, all Republicans, and Libertarian Roger Bloxham.

Wednesday’s show will feature, Nathan Rosenberg, Larry F. Sternberg, Peer Swan, David M. Williams and Willian Yacobozzi Jr.