Bates takes supervisor seat

Pat Bates took the early lead over challenger Cathryn DeYoung Tuesday night in their battle for the Fifth District seat on the Orange County Board of Supervisors and never relinquished it.

With all precincts counted, Bates held a 53.3 percent advantage over De Young “” 61,707 votes to 54,140 votes in the latest figures.

“It was wonderful to win,” Bates said. “But most wonderful was to win with the grass-roots support. We had over 800 volunteers working on our campaign. My term will reflect my commitment to the communities in the fifth district.”

Bates listed the Orange County Deputy Sheriff’s union and a majority of Republican elected officials and organizations as supporters.

One-time allies, Bates and DeYoung fought a ferocious battle of words for the seat, in a campaign that cost an estimated $5 million.

Tuesday’s election “” which broke all records for spending in a supervisorial race in the United States, according to Bates campaign manager, Sergio Prince “” was an extension of the June primary in which De Young and Bates duked it out, with Bates winning by too slim a margin to claim the seat outright.

“I actually filed in 2003, so it has been more than 2 ½ years for me,” DeYoung said Thursday. “It’s time to take a little break “” you should see my teenagers’ rooms.”

DeYoung, who has taken her loss gracefully, said she will continue to oppose the proposed tunnel from the Inland Empire to the Orange County, although in what capacity she is not sure.

“Transportation is my passion,” DeYoung said.

She will finish out her term as Laguna Niguel mayor which ends this month.

Elizabeth Pearson-Schneider, who was re-elected to the Laguna Beach City Council Tuesday, said Bates’ election was a boon for the city.

“Pat is a long-time friend and will be a friend to Laguna Beach,” Pearson-Schneider said. “She has been brought up to speed on the ‘Super Project’ and understands the critical nature of the clean up at Aliso Creek and the urgency to move the project forward. She has agreed to do everything she can to help us. “

Bates has a long history of political office. She served on the first Laguna Niguel City Council after the incorporation in which Dana Point obtained the coastal area that included Monarch Beach and the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel, by which the hotel is still identified.

During her terms on the council, Bates chaired the San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor Agency Board of Directors and was Vice-Chair of the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority (ETRPA), which successfully grounded plans for a commercial airport at the former El Toro U.S. Marine Corps Air Base.

Bates was elected in 1998 to represent the 73rd Assembly District. Her campaign literature touted her leadership in improving traffic congestion in Orange County.

She supports the completion of the planned Foothill Toll Road south from Oso Parkway to San Diego.

Council members Steven Dicterow and Cheryl Kinsman also supported Bates.

The election was costly. DeYoung’s war chest totaled $3.4 million, rounded up, of which she had spent almost $2.9 million as of Oct. 21 deadline to file campaign statements. Much of it was family money.

Bates reported spending $1,206,838.16, from donations of $937,178.94, which did not include $218,000 spent on her behalf by the sheriff’s group.