Republican Pair to Play Host to Clinton Again : Politics: Democratic presidential candidate will appear next Friday at event planned by builder Kathryn G. Thompson and executive Roger W. Johnson.

Two prominent Orange County Republicans who stirred controversy last December when they hosted a breakfast for Democratic presidential candidate Bill Clinton are planning to hold another event for the Arkansas governor, just four days before the California primary.

Kathryn G. Thompson, a top Republican contributor and a member of President Bush’s elite “Team-100” in the 1988 campaign, is a co-host of the event with Republican Roger W. Johnson, chairman of Western Digital Corp. in Irvine.

Last December, the welcoming of a Democrat into California’s most Republican county sent ripples nationwide as political observers wondered whether this was an aberration or an indication of the sagging economy’s damaging effect on the President’s core support.

The invitation to that event was entitled: “Looking for a Leader--Identifying Alternatives.”

This time, the hosts wrote in a letter to Orange County Republican and Democratic business leaders: “We believe it is appropriate to continue the dialogue on national issues here in Orange County. Now, more than ever, it is critically important that this campaign remain totally focused on the important economic and social issues facing our country.”

Thompson and Johnson said they have also invited President Bush and undeclared independent candidate Ross Perot to speak at separate events to the same audience. Their letter said that Clinton “quickly accepted” the offer and that Perot and Bush have not yet responded.

Thompson and Johnson were not available for comment Thursday. Last December, both said they had not decided whether they would eventually support Bush in November. Instead, they said they were concerned about the economy and wanted to send the White House a message by listening to the ideas of Bush’s opponents.

Both Republicans also said they supported Clinton’s campaign to win the Democratic nomination.

Several county Republican officials criticized Thompson and Johnson for being disloyal to their party. Thursday, the news of another event for Clinton sparked another round in the controversy.

“I would say their egos have gone wild, not that that hasn’t been the case for some time,” said Orange County Republican Party Chairman Thomas A. Fuentes. “Roger Johnson has never done anything for this county’s Republican community and Mrs. Thompson doesn’t know where she is on the political map.

“If these two want to play such political games, maybe they should find another party to play them in.”

The Clinton event--free of charge and open to the public--is scheduled to be held next Friday at 12:15 p.m. outside the Western Digital headquarters at 8105 Irvine Center Drive in Irvine.

Robert Blair, a spokesman for Western Digital, said notices of the event were sent to dozens of Orange County business leaders asking that they also invite their employees to attend.