A behind-the-scenes look at Orange County’s political life

Politics, along with chicken and rice, was on the menu as Orange County Democratic and Republican women got together for their annual election day luncheon.

Attorney Lisa Hughes announced her plans to run for state controller--hoping to become the second Republican woman ever to hold statewide elective office, she said. The women also predicted in their own secret balloting that Laguna Niguel Mayor Patricia C. Bates would be appointed to the Board of Supervisors seat being vacated by Marian Bergeson.

Building Industry Assn. director Christine Diemer, who moderated the luncheon, announced the group’s other forecasts before the official polls closed Tuesday evening:

* Proposition 209 would pass overwhelmingly;

* President Clinton would win;

* The race between Rep. Robert K. Dornan (R-Garden Grove) and Democratic challenger Loretta Sanchez in central Orange County would be too close to call;

* Charles V. Smith would defeat Mark Leyes in the 1st District supervisorial race;

* Todd Spitzer would defeat Mickey Conroy in the 3rd District supervisorial contest;

* Voters would approve term limits for Orange County officeholders;

* Sally Anne Sheridan would return after a hiatus to the Irvine mayor’s office by defeating Councilwoman Christina L. Shea.

The group guessed correctly in all contests except the one in Irvine, where Shea easily defeated Sheridan.

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Newly wed and reelected: At Republican election central Tuesday night, Assemblyman Scott Baugh was beaming--and not only because he was handily beating his Democratic opponent in the 67th District. On Baugh’s arm through most of the night was his new wife, Wendy.

The two wed a mere three weeks before the election, then flew to Barcelona for their honeymoon. Was the timing a show of confidence in his reelection bid, or a break from the election fraud case that has dogged him for eight months?

Baugh offered the simple explanation, “I was in love.” In any case, Baugh needn’t have worried about distractions: He won reelection with 56% of the vote, to Democrat Cliff Brightman’s 38%.

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Dornan’s long night: It was the night of the long count Tuesday in the 46th Congressional District race, with Dornan leading Sanchez by 233 votes. The race won’t be decided until absentee ballots are counted later this week.

Dornan and a dozen followers and family members took over the lobby bar at the Westin South Coast Plaza hotel and turned it into their own election central. After trailing by as many as 500 votes, Dornan finally passed Sanchez by 14 about 1:30 a.m.

It was a giddy marathon, as a call went out every 20 minutes to the registrar’s office for the latest update, with the Dornan lead fluctuating through the night--96, then 11, then 183.

At 4:03 a.m., the lead was 231 with one precinct to go.

Sallie Dornan pinned a corsage on husband Bob.

“The voters almost gave me permission to go into broadcasting and make my millions,” he said, then mocked himself with an Irish lilt to his voice. “Forget B-1 Bob Dornan. I am Laandsliide Dornan. Laaandsliiide Dornan. I liike the sound of it.”

By Times political writer Peter M. Warren with contributions from Times staff writers Gebe Martinez, Eric Bailey and Deborah Schoch.

Politics ’96 appears every Sunday. Items can be mailed to Politics ‘96, 1375 Sunflower Ave., Costa Mesa, CA 92626, or faxed to (714) 966-7711.

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Turnout Free-Fall

Orange County voter registration for the presidential election increased by 35,000 compared to 1992. However, turnout declined 19% with a little more than six in 10 of those eligible voting this year.

Total registered

1992: 1,240,778

1996: 1,275,775

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Precinct ballots cast

1992: 820,601

1996: 675,801

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Absentee ballots cast

1992: 158,423

1996: 113,157

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Total ballots cast

1992: 979,024, 83.3%

1996: 788,958, 61.8%

Source: Orange County registrar of voters