'Best legislature money can buy'

The famous phrase of legendary lobbyist Artie Samish to characterize the corruption-riddled California legislature was recalled on Tuesday-not because any of the lawmakers or candidates were accused of being corrupt but because, in a state with no limits on the amounts of campaign donations, they were spending more on winning nominations to legislative seats than at any time in state history.

In the most-watched state senate primary, State Assemblyman Jim Battin, stalwart conservative and son of the late Rep. (1960-69) James Baffin (R.-Mont.), handily won the Palm Springs district of lameduck Republican Dave Kelley (who, barred from seeking reelection by state term limits, easily won nomination to Battin's assembly district). Battin rolled up a margin of 3 to 1 over San Diego millionaire Mark Watton, who had slammed the legislator for voting "to take away a woman's fight to choose" and billed himself as "not from the far right-wing." In the final week of the campaign, the high-spending Watton dropped a massive attack mailing against Battin's conservatism--but accidentally had it mailed to the 76th Assembly district, which is outside the senate district he was wing for.

The state assembly primary that easily attracted the most attention was in the 44th District (Pasadena), where former TV commentator Susan Carpenter McMillan-famed as the spokesman for Paula Jones-was seeking the Republican nomination in an open district. Conservative favorite McMillan easily beat political consultant Damien Jones, whose better-funded campaign had the help of former Republican Gov. (1990-98) Pete Wilson and who attacked McMillan for her strong pro-life views. McMillan now faces liberal Democrat Carol Liu, mayor of Flint Ridge.

In Orange County, conservative GOP County Chairman Tom Fuentes handily survived a nasty, half-million-dollar assault from area liberals and businessmen trying to take over the county committee. But the right suffered defeats in two key nomination battles for open assembly districts. In the 67th District, where State Assembly GOP Leader Scott Baugh is"termed out," his closest friend and fellow conservative Jim Righeimer, a close associate of Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, lost to Huntington Beach City Councilman Tom Harman, who had the backing of the anti-Fuentes forces.

In a similar outcome in the neighboring 72nd District, Bruce Matthias, once the top aide to staunch conservative former Rep. (1978-92) Bill Dannemeyer, was beaten for the Republican nod by moderate-liberal Lynn Daucher, wife of a wealthy area lawyer. Daucher is trying to take the seat of outgoing GOP Assemblyman Dick Ackerman, who won the nomination to succeed retiring Republican State Sen. John Lewis. (As promised by proponents, term limits have indeed created many fresh opportunities and much political turnover in California.)

Copyright Human Events Publishing, Inc. Mar 17, 2000
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