Dornan Gets Backing of His ’92 Opponent

GARDEN GROVE — The 1992 Democratic opponent of Rep. Robert K. Dornan broke ranks with his party Wednesday, endorsing the eight-term Republican congressman over his challenger, Mike Farber.

At a news conference at Dornan campaign headquarters, Robert Banuelos said Farber’s recent attacks on the incumbent’s moral character motivated him to jump party lines. The Farber campaign has sent out two mailers since Oct. 15 in the 46th District accusing Dornan of physically attacking his wife.

Robert and Sallie Dornan say the allegations are lies, and have filed a libel suit against Farber.

Banuelos, who narrowly lost to Farber in this year’s Democratic primary, said, “Enough is enough. There’s got to be a limit. I’m not being disloyal to the party. My concern is for the people in the district.”

Scott Moxley, a Farber campaign spokesman, said: “Obviously, we are surprised he did it. But the bottom line for us is, who is Banuelos?”

However, Dornan, who was approached by Banuelos, hailed his former opponent’s endorsement as further evidence of an impending victory in the Nov. 8 election. Dornan has boasted he will win 55% of the vote.

“With Robert’s help, I’ll win with a little more class,” Dornan said.

It wasn’t the first time Banuelos, an administrator with the Orange County Community Development Council, defied the Democratic Party. He rejected requests from White House advisers this summer to drop his write-in candidacy and publicly support Farber. (Banuelos has subsequently abandoned his write-in campaign, citing a lack of money.)

Also on Wednesday, the Dornans backed off their attempt to obtain a temporary restraining order against future Farber mailers, explaining that newspaper accounts giving Sallie Dornan’s story make the legal action unnecessary.