<i> A behind-the-scenes look at Orange County’s political life</i> : Bicameral Candidate Runs Back and Forth in Two Campaigns at Once

Almost like seeing Elvis: In some quarters, rumors of Elvis Presley sightings grab attention. But in the Newport Beach area, sightings of Assemblyman Ross Johnson (R-Fullerton) are turning heads.

Although the rarely seen Johnson is running for reelection in his north Orange County district, he has been campaigning for the coastal Orange County state Senate seat that Marian Bergeson (R-Newport Beach) will be vacating in January when she moves to the County Board of Supervisors.

Even though a special election to fill Bergeson’s seat is still about six months away, Johnson is preparing to take on two Assembly members in the 35th Senate District race--Gil Ferguson (R-Newport Beach), who did not seek reelection because he plans to run for Bergeson’s seat, and Doris Allen (R-Cypress), who is frequently mentioned as a candidate.

Last week, Johnson attended a fund-raiser for Republican U.S. Senate candidate Mike Huffington, and the week before, he was working the crowd at a Newport Beach fund-raiser for Republican Assembly candidate Marilyn C. Brewer. He has also scheduled a private meeting with some Newport Beach abortion rights supporters.

Asked about his state Senate candidacy, Johnson replied: “I’m not talking about that yet.”

Meanwhile, word on the street is that Bergeson will endorse Johnson when the time is right. Bergeson said she won’t announce her endorsement until after the Nov. 8 election. However, she added, “I think Ross is an excellent candidate.”

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Crime fighters: With Gov. Pete Wilson grabbing all the headlines for his anti-crime positions, what’s happened to Republican state Atty. Gen. Dan Lungren?

That’s the question being raised by the campaign of Democratic challenger Tom Umberg, which is distributing information from recent polls, showing that Lungren’s support is in the mid-30s, and only between 10 and 15 points ahead of Umberg. George Urch, Umberg’s campaign manager, claims the relatively low support for Lungren means the voters do not have a solid sense of his record.

But Umberg isn’t very well-known either--his numbers are in the mid-20s--and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Kathleen Brown is losing political ground at the top of the ticket.

Urch claims Umberg’s record has more appeal than Brown’s; their biggest problem is getting voters’ attention. “That’s our challenge,” Urch said, “but it puts us on equal footing (with Lungren). . . . We can paint a picture of him that’s less than perfect.”

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The slugfest continues: Umberg’s departure from the 69th Assembly District has set up one of the biggest free-for-alls in the state, and events last week showed just how big.

Republican Assembly leader Jim Brulte (R-Rancho Cucamonga) was the featured guest at a fund-raiser for Republican nominee Jim Morrissey, as the GOP continues building what is expected to be a $450,000 war chest for Morrissey for the November election.

Assemblyman Mickey Conroy (R-Orange) also caused a flare-up when he proposed that volunteer poll watchers be posted at 21 precincts in the 69th District on Election Day because he suspects Democrats are committing voter fraud.

Republicans’ suspicions were raised when they saw the recent surge in Democratic voter registration in the 69th District, which is now 21 points higher than for Republicans.

“When we have 12 people in the field and we bring in 80 (registrations) and they bring in 1,000, you know something is funny,” said Mark Thompson, Morrissey’s campaign consultant.

But Democrat Mike Metzler, who plans to spend $450,000 to $500,000 in his effort to win the 69th District seat--also with help from his party leaders in Sacramento--predicts the 55.6% Democratic registration in the district will go up another point by Nov. 8.

“I think the Republican Party is running a little scared,” Metzler said of Conroy’s plan to have poll watchers.

The local GOP leadership, meanwhile, says Conroy’s plan to have volunteers watching for voter fraud on Election Day is his own, and not the party’s.

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No party lines here. The 500-member Santa Ana Police Officers Assn. recently endorsed both Democrats and Republicans in key races: Umberg for attorney general; Rep. Robert K. Dornan (R-Garden Grove) for reelection to his 46th Congressional District seat; state Sen. Rob Hurtt (R-Garden Grove) for the 34th state Senate District; Anaheim Councilman Irv Pickler for the 68th Assembly District seat now held by Curt Pringle (R-Garden Grove); Metzler for the open seat in the 69th Assembly District, and Conroy for reelection to his 71st Assembly District seat.

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Quote of the week: “Knowing Mickey (Conroy), he’ll probably spank them if they don’t vote Republican.” --California Democratic Party Chairman Bill Press, on Conroy’s pledge to watch for Election Day voter fraud and his attempt this year to pass legislation calling for the paddling of juvenile graffiti vandals.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Tonight: Ronald S. Prince and Barbara Coe, proponents of Proposition 187, the immigration reform initiative on the Nov. 8 ballot, speak at 6:30 p.m. at St. Mark Presbyterian Church, 2100 Mar Vista Drive, Newport Beach.

Tuesday: The Libertarian Party of Orange County will hold a forum on Proposition 187 at 6:30 p.m. at Holiday Inn-Irvine, 17941 Von Karman Ave.

Wednesday: A kickoff rally in support of Proposition 186, the health reform measure on the Nov. 8 ballot, will be held at 7 p.m. at Leisure World in Laguna Hills, Club House 3. Dr. Vishu Lingappa, one of the initiative’s sponsors, will be the featured speaker. The event is free, but tickets are required and may be obtained by calling (714) 581-8180.

Thursday: Delaine Eastin, candidate for superintendent of public instruction, speaks to a group called “Women For:” at 7 p.m. at the Irvine Ranch Water District, 15600 Sand Canyon Ave., Irvine.

Compiled by Times political writer Gebe Martinez, with contributions from staff writers Eric Bailey, Kevin Johnson and Faye Fiore.

Politics ’94 appears every Sunday.