Two local boys vie for State Assembly

Paul Clinton

In the race for the 67th Assembly seat, the Democratic challenger may

seem more dyed-in-the-wool conservative than incumbent Republican and

popular former Huntington Beach Mayor Tom Harman.

Bill Orton, a former janitor who graduated from Edison High School,

supports the death penalty, a freeze on more gun-control laws and refusal

of drivers licenses to illegal immigrants.

Orton, who said he was “dragged into [the race]” by his party, clearly

isn’t your typical Democrat. He is a hard pill to swallow for his party,

even by his own admission.

“I’m the Pepto Bismol candidate,” Orton said. “I have a lot of

conservative opinions on issues.”

And Harman, first elected to his seat in 2000 to replace a termed-out

Scott Baugh, has made a name for himself in Sacramento protecting the

environment and tightening ethical guidelines for public officials.

“[People in the district want] clean water, clean beaches and clean

air,” Harman said. “I hear that all the time.”

Harman, a lawyer who was first elected to the City Council in 1994,

should be able to attract bipartisan support in his bid to retain his

seat, said Tom Fuentes, the chairman of the Republican Party of Orange

County. Harman is unopposed in the March 5 primary and will face Orton in

November.

“I suspect that due to his long service to the community, he will

garner votes from both Republicans and Democrats,” Fuentes said. “I have

never heard of the challenger and I doubt if the voters have either.”

Orton has had some glitches as he attempts to get his campaign off the

ground. As of the Jan. 24 filing deadline, Orton had reported no

contributions for 2001 or the first three weeks of this year.

Harman, by comparison, raised $112,335 during 2001. He spent $49,079

and counts $114,052 in on-hand cash. As of Jan. 30, Harman had already

increased his war chest to $120,148.

Harman’s leading contributors last year include the California

Teachers Assn. with a $3,250 gift, insurer Farmers Group with $3,000 and

tobacco giant Philip Morris with $3,000.

Orton also lost a bid to have a 250-word ballot statement sent to

voters. An Orange County Registrar official on Tuesday informed Orton

that his statement would not be printed.

Since his election, two Harman bills have been signed by Gov. Gray

Davis. In October, Davis signed a bill that would prevent the sale of

caulerpa taxifolia, which is also known as “killer algae.” The substance

has been found in Huntington Harbour.

Davis also signed an esoteric legal bill introduced by Harman, that

deals with the distribution of assets not included in a will.

In August, Davis vetoed a Harman bill, which would have required the

state to study the possibility of purchasing the Bolsa Chica mesa.

* Paul Clinton covers the environment and John Wayne Airport for the

Independent’s sister paper the Daily Pilot. He may be reached at (949)

764-4330 or by e-mail at o7 paul.clinton@latimes.comf7 .