BOARD OF EQUALIZATION

CALIFORNIA JOURNAL ANALYSIS OF THE 1998 CALIFORNIA PRIMARY RACES AND MEASURES STATEWIDE RACES U.S. Senate Governor Lieutenant Governor Secretary of State Controller Treasurer Attorney General Insurance Commissioner Superintendent of Public Instruction Board of Equalization STATE BALLOT MEASURES Prop 219 Prop 220 Prop 221 Prop 222 Prop 223 Prop 224 Prop 225 Prop 226 Prop 227 CALIFORNIA CONGRESSIONAL RACES Districts 1 - 26 Districts 27 - 52 LEGISLATIVE RACES STATE SENATE Districts 2 - 40 STATE ASSEMBLY Districts 1 - 20 Districts 21 - 40 Districts 41 - 60 Districts 61 - 80

District 1 District 2 District 3 District 4 BOARD OF EQUALIZATION DISTRICT 1 (Voter Registration: 52% D - 29% R) Democrat: Incumbent Johan Klehs of Castro Valley. Libertarian: Kennita Watson of Palo Alto. A walkover for former Assemblyman Johan Klehs. Republicans didn't even field a candidate. BOARD OF EQUALIZATION DISTRICT 2 (Voter Registration: 42% D - 41% R) Democrats: Joseph F. Micallef and Tom Y. Santos of Elk Grove. Republican: Incumbent Dean Andal of Stockton. Libertarian: Richard E. Venable. No contest for Dean Andal, a former assemblyman. One of the two Democrats running against him, Joseph F. Micallef, CEO of a tax consulting firm and a former field auditor for the board, has run unsuccessfully twice before. HOT! BOARD OF EQUALIZATION DISTRICT 3 (Voter Registration: 37% D - 45% R) Democrats: Mary Christian-Heising of La Jolla, Fred Clayton of Vista, Mark Spiegler of San Diego. Republicans: Patrick James Leone of Temecula, Claude Parrish of Rancho Palos Verdes, Andy Schooler of Del Mar, Jim Stieringer of La Mesa, Hal J. Styles, Jr. of Desert Hot Springs and Craig A. Wilson of San Diego. Libertarian: J.R. Graham of San Diego. Peace & Freedom: Maxine Bell Quirk of Orange. For the first time in 20 years, this district will not be represented Republican Ernie Dronenburg.Yes, term limits cleans out the Board of Equalization as well. Dronenburg is trying to hand the seat to his chief of staff, Craig Wilson, but perennial board of equalization candidate Claude Parrish is offering a strong challenge in the GOP primary. Given the extremely low-profile nature of board races, Wilson has an advantage with his ballot designation: equalization boardmember's deputy. Wilson also enjoys the help of two other people named Wilson: GOP consultant Marty Wilson and Governor Pete Wilson, for whom Craig served as assistant secretary of the State and Consumer Services Agency. Craig Wilson expects to spend $300,000 on mailers and radio spots to try and connect with the eight million people in the district. Parrish, on the other hand, is trying to corner the market on slate cards to make his name familiar with voters. A board candidate for other districts in 1986, '90 and '94 - including a second place finish to Dean Andal in the District 2 GOP primary - Parrish has gotten his name on several important GOP slates. Parrish is trying to use the open primary as well to his advantage by getting his name on some Democratic slates. His endorsements include the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, Lew Uhler, former Governor George Deukmejian and Senate GOP Leader Ross Johnson. Parrish also expects to spend upwards of $250,000 on the primary. The GOP wild card may be Andy Schooler, who is said to have substantial personal resources and could make an impact on the race if he is willing to spend them. The other GOP candidates don't figure seriously in the hunt, and given the registration advantage Republicans enjoy in the district, it's likely the GOP candidate will prevail come November. Among the Democratic contenders is Fred Clayton, who became the bane of Assemblyman Howard Kaloogian's (R-Carlsbad) existence in 1994 and 1996 when he and his wife took turns challenging Kaloogian in Republican primaries and as write-in in the 1996 general election. He has shown a willingness to spend his own money on campaigns but has said he won't self-fund this race. HOT! BOARD OF EQUALIZATION DISTRICT 4 (Voter registration: 56% D - 28% R) Democrats: Incumbent John Chiang of Chatsworth, Gregorio Armenta of Los Angeles, Gil Eisner, Jose Fernandez and Tyrone Vahedi of Los Angeles, Craig Freis of Santa Monica. Republicans: Joe Adams of Burbank, Khalil Khalil of Los Angeles. Libertarian: William Jennings of Pasadena. Peace and Freedom: Shirley Isaacson of Malibu. Green: Glenn Bailey of Encino. This Democrat-dominated, Los Angeles-based seat was held throughout the 1990s by Brad Sherman, who has since moved on to Congress. Sherman's resignation prompted something of a power struggle between he and Governor Pete Wilson. Sherman claimed the power to name his successor, and promptly chose his chief aide, John Chiang, to succeed him. Wilson had other ideas, believing that he was the one who should do the choosing. After some judicial saber rattling, Chiang was allowed to stay in the post. As an acting member of the board, Chiang is technically an incumbent, and his organization and endorsement list certainly underscore that position. The only Democrat in a position to give him any kind of real challenge is Vahedi, an advisor with the board. Vahedi has drawn some independent attention as the author of the so-called "95-5" initiative, a measure sponsored by the United Teachers of Los Angeles which would restrict administrative spending in school districts. The poorly-funded Vahedi presumably saw the initiative as his ticket to a spot on the Board of Equalization. But if he's serious about "95-5," he should probably devote his attention to it, as Chiang looks tough to beat in this race.

This page first published May 19, 1998

Last updated May 19, 1998



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