Giving candidates a run for their money

In a race where his opponents together have already spent nearly $1 million, Democrat Larry Caballero’s bid for the 35th District Senate seat may be the cheapest in history.

Before the April 11 special primary, Caballero plans to spend, in his words, “zero.” But so far, that doesn’t seem to be holding him back.

Caballero, a Democratic activist and career school teacher, is one of three candidates seeking the Senate seat that’s been open since former Sen. John Campbell won a House seat in December. The 35th Senate District includes Costa Mesa, Newport Beach, Huntington Beach and all or part of 12 other Orange County cities.

In a district where Republicans make up 48% of the electorate to the Democrats’ 28%, Caballero is up against challenging odds. But he’s confident that his GOP opponents ? Dana Point City Councilwoman Diane Harkey and Huntington Beach Assemblyman Tom Harman ? have savaged each other so much in their mail campaigns that neither will get the 50%-plus-one vote required to win outright.

That would leave Caballero to square off with the GOP primary winner on the June 6 general election ballot.

Caballero, 60, lives in La Palma, at the northern edge of the district. Now semi-retired, he has taught English, journalism, history and government in public schools for 38 years, most recently at South Gate Community Adult School in Los Angeles. He also serves on policy-making committees for several educational associations.

He’s been a Democratic party activist for years, working on campaigns for Rep. Loretta Sanchez, state Sen. Joe Dunn and Westminster school board member Sergio Contreras.

As an educator and supporter of social programs, Caballero is “a real pillar of his community,” said Jim Moreno, the Orange County director for the California Democratic Party.

Other Democratic candidates come to everyone for campaign contributions, Moreno said, “but they come to him for advice and they ask for help because they know he’s a heavy lifter.”

On the issues and in the way they’re running their campaigns, Caballero and his GOP opponents are at opposite ends of the spectrum. For now, Caballero is using a no-budget, grass-roots strategy.

“I can’t compete with the funding” that Harkey and Harman have, he said. “The reason I’m running is to give Democrats and independents and like-minded Republicans someone to support.”

Campaign rhetoric hasn’t convinced him that illegal immigration is the most pressing issue facing Orange County. Immigrants come here to work and the U.S. government doesn’t stop them, even though the technology exists to do so, Caballero said.

“I think the problem is that there are laws on the books already that need to be enforced,” he said. “It’s the government that doesn’t want to, [although] they may play to the fears of the people when they want to get elected.”

If he is elected, Caballero said he would support pro-environment bills, education and programs to help people who are homeless or poor.

Educators spend too much time on testing, and they need smaller class sizes, he said. For example, one of his adult classes includes 68 students, and it covers pre-history through 1865 in only six weeks.

Caballero thinks the answer is more money for education.

“Just because we’ve spent a lot of money doesn’t mean we’ve spent enough,” he said.

Since next week’s special election is an open primary, Caballero may lose some Democratic votes to Harman. In March a group of Laguna Beach environmentalists ? a number of them registered Democrats ? held a fundraiser for Harman, largely because of his support for the Bolsa Chica wetlands and other environmental projects.

As opposed to Harkey, some Democrats think Harman “offers much more for us, and for the Democratic Party, and for what we think is the best for Laguna Beach,” said Phyllis Sweeney, a Democratic voter who hosted the event at her home. “We looked at him as an environmental candidate, and that is why he received our support.”

Caballero expects April 11 turnout to be low, and he said he hasn’t heard anything about Democrats voting for Harman. In fact, two successive polls done by Harman’s campaign showed Caballero gaining a few points in recent weeks, though he polled behind Harman.

Not bad for a $0 campaign.

“One thing I can predict with confidence: after April 11, I will be the Democratic winner,” Caballero said. “We’ll see who the Republican winner is.”dpt.04-caballero-kt-CPhotoInfo6H1PJK7320060404ix67gfknKENT TREPTOW / DAILY PILOT(LA)Larry Caballero is a democratic candidate in the 35th District state Senate race.