The State - News from July 3, 1985

Democratic Lt. Gov. Leo McCarthy, facing a Republican reelection challenge in 1986, said he has changed his mind and now favors the death penalty for certain killers. McCarthy, who voted against capital punishment every time it came up during his 14 years in the Legislature, said that after three years of pondering, “I conclude that the death penalty is warranted for murderers who have no regard whatsoever for human life.” The switch was criticized Monday by a Republican candidate for lieutenant governor, Orange County Supervisor Bruce Nestande. Nestande was quoted in the Orange County Register as saying McCarthy “knows he’s in a tough race next year. The death penalty is going to be on people’s minds because it’s part of the state Supreme Court confirmation issue.”