40th Congressional District

Re 40th Congressional District race: Never have I seen so many candidates selling their "capabilities" via "I love all people," "I am a conservative" and "President Reagan loves me" literature. It would be a tremendous cost savings if each candidate utilized the same political consulting firm and mailed out the same brochures except for the pictures and candidate names, along with the statement "only the names and places have been changed to protect the innocent." There are three parameters that should be considered in voting for any political candidate: Who best represents the views, philosophies and interests of the voter and the nation as a whole?

The final chapter in one of the most bizarre political cases in Orange County history comes to a close today as the 6-month probation of former Irvine City Councilman C. David Baker, once a shining prospect in the local Republican party, officially ends. Baker, 36, has performed in excess of 500 hours of community service for forging a $48,000 check during his failed bid for Congress last year. In September, Baker pleaded guilty to one count of felony forgery. But Orange County Superior Court Judge Myron S. Brown later reduced the charge to a misdemeanor, ordering Baker to perform an unspecified amount of community service and placing him on probation.

Candidates for the 40th Congressional District will appear at a forum Wednesday sponsored by the Balboa Bay Republican Women, Federated. The noon meeting will be at the Airporter Inn, 18700 MacArthur Blvd., Irvine. Cost is $11 for the luncheon. Reservations may be made by calling Ruth Nerney, (714) 673-7263, or Lynn Turner, (714) 646-6101. Expected to appear at the forum are Irvine City Councilman C.

Lida Campbell Lenney was in her element, talking to a classroom of students. But this time, the former schoolteacher's subject matter was heresy, or at least what amounts to heresy in Orange County's politically conservative 40th Congressional District. "I'm a card-carrying member of the ACLU," she told the civics class at Tustin High School. "George Bush seems to think that's unpatriotic. I think that's very patriotic."

It is a rare experience to open the newspaper and find truly good news. I had such an experience when I read that Nathan Rosenberg was going to challenge Robert E. Badham in the June primary election. Badham is not only an undistinguished member of Congress but is considered an embarrassment to his district. Our 40th Congressional District needs and deserves a dynamic, potentially influential representative in Congress. Your article indicates that Rosenberg could fill that position.

Former Marine Lt. Col. Oliver North, a hero to conservative causes despite his indictment for conspiracy in the Iran-Contra scandal, flew into Long Beach Wednesday for a day of campaigning for Dana Rohrabacher, a candidate in the 42nd Congressional District Republican primary. "First of all, he's a true friend," North said of the former Reagan speech writer. "Second of all, he's a true friend of freedom."

Re the race in the 40th Congressional District: There exists within this district some painful flaw in the political process. Why is it that the safest Republican district in the country, representing the very best our system can offer, consistently delivers less than our best? Has absolute power corrupted absolutely? Given that "money is the mother's milk of politics," are we simply condemned to settle for the best representation "money can buy?" The record speaks for itself.

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.

The heavy Republican registration in the 40th Congressional District makes it a political graveyard for Democratic candidates. Nearly 60% of registered voters in the district are Republicans. Only about 30% are Democrats. And the area covering south coastal Orange County has been represented by a Republican for as long as anyone can remember. Those are tremendous odds for a candidate to overcome in one of the most Republican districts in the nation.

C. Christopher Cox, a virtual unknown in Orange County before he left his job as a lawyer in the White House to run for Congress, took a decisive early lead Tuesday night in the bitterly contested race for the Republican nomination in the heavily GOP 40th District. In early returns, Cox, 35, of Newport Beach, was outpolling the two other leading candidates in the race--Irvine Councilman C. David Baker, 35, and Newport Beach businessman Nathan Rosenberg, 36.

Former Marine Lt. Col. Oliver North, a hero to conservative causes despite his indictment for conspiracy in the Iran-Contra scandal, flew into Long Beach Wednesday for a day of campaigning for Dana Rohrabacher, a candidate in the 42nd Congressional District Republican primary. "First of all, he's a true friend," North said of the former Reagan speech writer. "Second of all, he's a true friend of freedom."

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.

Democratic congressional candidate Lida Lenney on Monday night called upon Republican C. Christopher Cox to apologize for sending voters in the 40th Congressional District a pair of so-called "hit pieces" against two of his GOP primary opponents. But Cox, a former senior associate White House counsel and one of the leading candidates in the race, declined, saying he had nothing to apologize for.

Twelve Republicans seek to fill the vacant congressional seat in the county's southwestern 40th District. Because the district is one of the most Republican areas in the nation, it is a foregone conclusion that the Republican who wins nomination June 7 will win the general election in November and go on to Congress. If the voters decide the race on the basis of which Republican is best qualified to represent the district, they will have to send Nathan Rosenberg into the November election.

As I read your article "Baker Criticizes 2 Rivals for No Stand on Growth Initiative (May 1)," I was not surprised to learn that Nathan Rosenberg refuses to make public his stand on the pending initiative. Several weeks ago we received a campaign plea from Rosenberg asking for our support. Like many of our aspiring local politicians, Rosenberg found it politically expedient to "beat up" on the Irvine Co. and development interests. After I finished reading his campaign pitch, I referred back to the first page of the letter.