CANDIDATES REMOVE RANCOR AT DEBATE; GOVERNOR HOPEFULS USE FORUM TO LURE LATINO VOTERS.

Byline: Rick Orlov Daily News Staff Writer

In a broad appeal to Latino voters, the four major candidates for governor in the June 2 election dropped attacks on one another and focused Saturday on their visions of California's future.

The forum that included one Republican and three Democratic candidates was sponsored by La Opinion and KMEX-TV (Channel 34) and was broadcast live to Spanish-language television stations statewide.

The Republican candidate, Attorney General Dan Lungren, used the forum to try to overcome the rift between the GOP and Latino voters.

``The problem my party has had is not reaching out to the Latino community,'' Lungren said. ``We haven't done a good job. We share core values.''

Lungren said he wanted to move beyond the issues that resulted in Latino voters deserting the party over the past four years, issues spotlighted by the anti-illegal immigrant Proposition 187 and Proposition 209 and its ending of affirmative action programs.

Lungren said he embraced new immigrants.

``Some people say, my Lord, look at what the state is going to look like - it's going to be far more Hispanic,'' Lungren said. ``I say that's wonderful.''

On Saturday, the Democratic candidates, businessman Al Checchi, Lt. Gov. Gray Davis and Rep. Jane Harman dropped most of the attacks that dominated an earlier forum and some of their campaign advertising.

Checchi, in particular, has drawn criticism for his advertising, but he said he would not run any other commercials that mention his opponents.

``Look, for 18 months the campaigns of my opponents have been negative toward me,'' Checchi said. ``We felt we had to respond.''

But, with the election less than two weeks away, Checchi said he would focus on his plans to change the state's educational system, with greater investment and teacher accountability.

Checchi's standing has dropped dramatically over the past two weeks, from the leading position to third place. However, he said, he remains confident.

The three Democratic candidates were in general agreement on most issues, with Harman using the debate to highlight her positions on gun control. She said she would seek legislation banning the production of cheap handguns known as Saturday night specials.

She also highlighted her support of abortion rights, acknowledging it was a sensitive subject to broach among a predominantly Catholic audience.

Davis has less campaign funding than the other candidates, but finds himself in the lead of the race.

He said he feels he has benefited from voter disgust with negative campaigns.

``People don't want to see a food fight,'' Davis said.

One of the few sharp exchanges occurred between Davis and Checchi, dealing with their backgrounds.

``I chose to dedicate my life to public service and not make money,'' Davis said. ``Not that money is bad. But the background of a person is important on two days - judgment day and election day.''

But Checchi said Davis would have done better spending some time in the private sector, citing the example of Texas Gov. George Bush, a Republican businessman given high marks for his tenure as governor.

``He wasn't sitting 25 years in a government position bumping along,'' Checchi said.

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Photo

PHOTO Gubernatorial candidates, left to right, Al Checchi, Dan Lungren, Jane Harman and Gray Davis appear Saturday at Loyola Marymount College during a forum sponsored by Spanish-language newspaper La Opinion and television station KMEX-TV (Channel 34).

Ciro Cesar/La Opinion