Key GOP Panel Refuses to Endorse Lewis : Politics: Opponents of the front-runner for the 35th Senate District seat engineer a Republican Central Committee decision to remain neutral.

Assemblyman John R. Lewis’ bid for official support from the Republican Party in the crowded race for the 35th state Senate district was stymied Monday night when county GOP Central Committee members voted decisively to refrain from endorsing anyone.

The vote was a victory for Assembly members Nolan Frizzelle (R-Fountain Valley) and Doris Allen (R-Cypress), and for Orange County Transportation Commission Chairman Dana Reed, who are considered Lewis’ strongest contenders for the California Senate seat vacated by John Seymour when he was appointed a U.S. senator.

But none of Lewis’ three prime GOP foes could have mustered the necessary two-thirds vote in the Central Committee to win an official endorsement, so they instead moved to block Lewis from gaining the endorsement.

Official party backing could have been a big boost to Lewis in the March 19 special election. Besides setting him apart from seven other Republican candidates, it could have resulted in thousands of dollars of support and hundreds of campaign volunteers funneled to him through the county Central Committee.

In a boisterous debate Monday night, Lewis’ supporters said the Central Committee should endorse one Republican because in special elections--unlike normal primaries--all candidates are lumped together on one ballot, allowing Democrats and independent voters to choose whomever they like.

Conservative county Republicans fear that Democrats might help elect a more moderate Republican, such as Reed, even though the 35th is a solid GOP district.

But Frizzelle and Allen argued that to endorse would be unfair and divisive. Republican voters, they said, should be free to choose or work for the candidate they want.

“I would not for a second think in terms of using the Central Committee for my own purposes,” Frizzelle said. “It’s too big an institution, too important.”

Four other Republicans are also vying for the state Senate seat: Westminster Mayor Charles V. Smith; Villa Park lawyer William A. Dougherty; Santa Ana lawyer John Salvatore Parise, and Orange businessman James Wronski.

The race is expected to be close, with Lewis considered an early favorite because he has the support of powerful Sacramento Republicans. Reed, however, is endorsed by most of the county supervisors--all of whom are Republicans and have access to wealthy, potential campaign donors. Frizzelle and Allen have strong support bases in their Assembly districts.

The 35th District is shaped like a horseshoe ringing Santa Ana. It includes a slice of that city, and all or most of Anaheim, Orange and Costa Mesa. It also includes Tustin, Villa Park, Fountain Valley, Westminster and Irvine.

Frank Hoffman, an Anaheim Democrat and a member of the Orange County Board of Education, and Libertarian Eric Sprik, a Costa Mesa businessman, are the other candidates.

If no one on the ballot wins 50% of the total March 19 vote, the top Democrat and Republican vote-getters will vie in a May 15 runoff. Republicans hold a 56%-to-33% edge in district registration, so the GOP candidate would be an overwhelming favorite to capture the seat.