Sanchez Still Looking for Office Space in O.C.

COSTA MESA — Complaining that landlords are hesitant to rent office space to her, Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-Garden Grove) said Monday that she is still scouting her congressional district for a building to rent.

Sanchez, who was sworn in as the 46th Congressional District representative last week in Washington, said some people are unwilling to rent to her in the district because of partisan reasons, and they do not expect her to be in office after the next election in 1998.

“It’s been very difficult. A lot of landlords view us as a two-year office,” she said with a laugh. “It’s been a real interesting process.”

The congresswoman said that her top priority will be to help small-business owners. Sanchez, 36, ran a small business before her election to Congress.

She also said she will create five local task forces to help her address critical issues including education, youth violence and veterans affairs. She accused her predecessor, Republican Robert K. Dornan, whom she defeated in November, of being a staunch defender of the armed forces while ignoring veterans.

Although she has been a congresswoman for only a week, Sanchez said that since her election her campaign office has received numerous calls from constituents disgusted over partisan bickering in Washington. Some Republican callers have also expressed their opposition to Speaker Newt Gingrich, she said.

Republican constituents have broken ranks with Gingrich over “the ethics issue” rather than because of ideological differences, she added.

Sanchez said she has been warmly received by other members of the Orange County delegation, who are all Republicans, but is still waiting to meet Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Huntington Beach). Both Rep. Ron Packard (R-Oceanside) and Rep. Chris Cox (R-Newport Beach) “have been helpful,” she said.

In addition, Sanchez said that California’s Democratic senators, Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer, have both welcomed her to Washington, and Feinstein has already approached her about working on legislation together.

Looking ahead to her reelection battle, Sanchez said she expects that Republicans will pick somebody from outside the district to run against her in 1998, after establishing residency.

“I think they’ll move someone in. There’s not a great crop of [local] Republicans out there,” she said.

Sanchez, who is currently working in the district, met with members of the Times’ Orange County Edition editorial staff.