CAPPS HEADED FOR CONGRESS; LATE LAWMAKER'S WIFE VICTORIOUS.

Byline: Amanda Covarrubias Associated Press 

The widow of the late Democratic Rep. Walter Capps defeated a conservative Republican state assemblyman Tuesday in a special election to replace the deceased congressman.

Lois Capps led Tom Bordonaro Jr. 65,583 votes (55.1 percent) to 51,589 votes (43.3 percent), with absentee ballots and 240 of 356 precincts reporting. Libertarian Robert Bakhaus had 1,948 votes (1.6 percent).

The election on California's Central Coast was touted as a bellwether for the nation, as Republicans and Democrats this year try to win control of the U.S. House of Representatives.

``This is so much about Walter,'' Lois Capps told supporters monitoring early returns at a Santa Barbara restaurant. ``This is what the election is about. We are sending such a strong message about outside interest groups, aren't we? On the positive side you are sending a message to the country about what a democracy still is.''

The campaign in the 22nd Congressional District provided a glimpse of what might be in store for voters across the nation this year as outside interest groups wield their influence in elections.

Bordonaro, 38, is a two-term assemblyman and a former rancher and tax preparer. Capps, 60, is a retired school nurse.

Bordonaro presented himself as a conservative who reflects the conservative values of the district. Capps described herself as the best person to carry on the liberal leanings of her late husband, who served only eight months in office before his death in October.

A former religion professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara, Walter Capps defeated Republican Rep. Andrea Seastrand in November 1995 by more than 10,000 votes to win a House seat that had been held by the GOP for 48 years.

Registrars in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties predicted a 50 percent to 60 percent turnout of the district's 334,706 voters. The region was bathed in sunshine with temperatures in the mid-70s throughout election day.

In Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, the airwaves were flooded during the campaign with commercials paid for by Washington, D.C.-based groups opposing late-term abortions and supporting political term limits and business interests. At times, it seemed as if the candidates' voices had been drowned out by the din.

``They were the most juvenile attempts at fooling people I've ever seen,'' said John Hayes, a Santa Barbara lawyer, as he walked out of his polling place Tuesday.

Candidates cranked up their own rhetoric a notch Tuesday when Lois Capps' campaign accused the Bordonaro camp of calling Democratic voters in the past few days and misrepresenting themselves as a group called The Central Coast Democratic Committee for Honest Representation.

The calls were made by a Sacramento phone bank hired by Bordonaro's campaign, Capps spokeswoman Lisa Finkel claimed.

``If it's not illegal, it's certainly immoral,'' said John Quain, a Santa Maria Democrat who received one of the phone calls Monday night. ``They were trying to get me to vote against Capps.''

What's more, Finkel said, the callers misstated Capps' position on Social Security. Voters were told Capps wouldn't reauthorize Social Security benefits, when, in fact, she will, Finkel said.

Capps' campaign manager Cathy Duvall, said she planned to file a complaint with the Federal Election Commission after the election.

The Bordonaro campaign said it had done nothing illegal.

``The Bordonaro campaign and an ad hoc affiliate - Central Coast Democrats for Honest Representation - have been calling voters to inform them about Capps' liberal views on several different issues,'' said Todd Harris, a Bordonaro spokesman.

Ian Stirton, a spokesman for the Federal Election Commission in Washington, said it was unclear if such activity violates federal law. Some campaigns have made similar calls in the past and gotten away with it, he said.

LOCAL CANDIDATES

Here is a list of candidates for area congressional races:

24th District

Catherine Carter, Natural Law

Joe Gelman, Republican

Randy Hoffman, Republican

Brad Sherman, Democrat, inc.

Ralph Shroyer, Peace and Freedom

William Westmiller, Republican

25th District

Bruce Acker, Libertarian

Howard ``Buck'' McKeon, Republican, inc.

26th District

Maria Armoudian, Green

Howard Berman, Democrat, inc.

David Cossack, Natural Law

Raul Godinez, Democrat

Carlos Herreravillate, Reform

Juan Ros, Libertarian

27th District

Barry Gordon, Democrat

Bob New, Libertarian

James Rogan, Republican, inc.

29th District

Mike Binkley, Libertarian

David Churchman, Republican

Mike Gottlieb, Republican

Henry Waxman, Democrat, inc.

Karen Wilkinson, Natural Law

Source: Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder's Office, California Secretary of State

CAPTION(S):

Photo, box

PHOTO Lois Capps

Wins bellwether race

Box: Local candidates (see text)