GOP RIVALS JOCKEY FOR ENDORSEMENTS\Gathering of state group seen as test to weed out top candidates.

Byline: Steven J. Gorman Daily News Staff Writer

Dozens of Republicans seeking various government offices gathered Saturday to joust with primary rivals before the state's biggest grass-roots body of conservative GOP activists.

The endorsing convention of the California Republican Assembly marked an early test of organization and strength of GOP candidates running for Congress, the state Legislature and local office throughout the area.

But for the most heavily contested GOP primary races in the San Fernando Valley, the meeting produced few clear-cut favorites.

According to unofficial results of caucus voting, Bob Oltman of Pasadena edged out state Assemblywoman Paula Boland, R-Granada Hills, and two other candidates to win the CRA endorsement for the 21st District state Senate seat being vacated by Newton Russell, R-Glendale.

Computer consultant Ron Culver of Van Nuys gained an endorsement over two other contenders in the race to succeed incumbent Barbara Friedman, D-Sherman Oaks, for the 40th District state Assembly seat.

And as expected, Assemblyman James Rogan, R-Glendale, beat out his lone rival, Joe Paul, to win the CRA stamp of approval in his bid to fill the 27th Congressional District seat being vacated by retiring Rep. Carlos J. Moorhead, R-Glendale.

For other congressional and state legislative races, CRA caucuses generally conceded their endorsements to unopposed candidates or failed to produce the necessary two-thirds majority for any contender in the more crowded fields.

Still, the event, held in a banquet room of the Odyssey Restaurant in Granada Hills, gave the candidates an opportunity to appeal for support from some of the more conservative members of the Republican rank and file.

"The basis of my platform is simple. I think almost everything the government is doing is wrong," said state Assembly candidate Bob Larkin of Simi Valley. "I think the government is the biggest enemy of family values."

Larkin is one of six Republican contenders for the 38th Assembly District seat that state term limits are forcing Boland to relinquish.

Neither former Assemblyman Tom McClintock nor former CRA state president Stephen Frank of Simi Valley of mustered the two-thirds majority needed for an endorsement in that race. But both claimed victory.

"Considering that Tom has always received the CRA endorsement in every race he's ever run, it shows grass-roots politics works," said Frank, who garnered 21 caucus votes to the 23 received by McClintock. "You can't buy an election, and the Sacramento old-boy club can't give you an endorsement."

McClintock called his showing a "moral victory" given Frank's strong ties to the CRA, but said the lack of an endorsement was the best possible outcome because it bodes well for "party unity."

"That's a solid foundation for a Republican landslide in November," he said.

The CRA endorsement process is complex and designed to reward candidates for whom there is overwhelming support.

For each congressional and state legislative race, delegates from the local CRA chapters located in that district huddle together in "caucuses" to hear from each candidate, then vote for the candidate of their choice.

Among the more heavily contested races, no endorsements were given for the 24th Congressional District seat occupied by Rep. Howard Berman, D-Mission Hills; the 26th Congressional District seat being vacated by Rep. Anthony Beilenson, D-Woodland Hills; nor the eight-way primary contest for the 43rd Assembly District seat being vacated by Rogan.

Unopposed candidates winning CRA backing include Marine veteran and business owner Ollie McCaulley, running for the 39th Assembly District seat being vacated by Richard Katz, D-Panorama City, and incumbent state Sen. Cathie Wright, R-Simi Valley, running for re-election in the 19th Senate District.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Mike Antonovich also was endorsed in his bid for re-election.

In a straw poll on Republican presidential candidates, conservative columnist Pat Buchanan emerged as the clear winner with 43 votes, followed by Alan Keyes with 30, Sen. Phil Gramm, R-Texas, with 19 and Senate Republican leader Bob Dole in fourth place with 12.