Several prominent women are demanding an apology from Democratic Assemblyman Joe Baca, who called state Sen. Jim Brulte a "political pimp" for backing Baca's female GOP opponent in the race for an open state Senate seat.

Two elected San Bernardino County leaders, a leading GOP women's group and Republican candidate Eunice Ulloa's campaign all called on Baca to apologize for his remark.

"Offensively sexist is the kindest that can be said about it," wrote Beth Rogers, president of The Seneca Network, Inc., a statewide group with 1,600 members designed to recruit and finance Republican women candidates.

"Women candidates are not prostitutes by virtue of receiving assistance from a male incumbent . . . Shame on you," she wrote.

In a separate letter to Baca, county Supervisor Kathy Davis called the remark "insulting and demeaning to all women." Colton City Councilwoman Deirdre Bennett also wrote to the San Bernardino lawmaker and said his "sexist comments do not reflect well on your judgment and demeanor."

Baca, being forced out of the Assembly by term limits after six years, is facing Ulloa next month for an open state Senate seat to represent much of western San Bernardino County. Ulloa, the mayor of Chino, was recruited by Brulte, the Rancho Cucamonga lawmaker who is leading the statewide Republican campaign to gain control of the state Senate.

In an interview last week, Baca referred to Brulte as a "political pimp" when asked if he thought Brulte was serious about putting money into Ulloa's campaign.

On Tuesday, Baca said his remark had been taken out of context. He said he called Brulte a political pimp because the lawmaker has sought to recruit a variety of male and female candidates.

"There were individuals -- Republicans -- that had come to me who said they were really upset with Brulte trying to be emperor of that area, and because he is the emperor of that area I called him a political pimp," Baca said.

Baca declined Tuesday to name any candidates -- such as Ulloa -- that Brulte had recruited that would classify the GOP lawmaker as a "political pimp."

Dave Gilliard, Ulloa's Sacramento-based consultant, questioned Baca's explanation.

"It sounds a little bit like Bill Clinton trying to describe some of his parsed language," Gilliard said. "That's not very credible."

Rogers said in a telephone interview from her Santa Barbara home that Baca's defense does not make his comments any less demeaning.

"I don't care if it is men, women or whomever, there's no way to take that word (pimp) as not insulting," she said.

Baca said he had not seen the letter from The Seneca Network and did not respond to phone calls for comment after it was faxed to his campaign office.

Instead, the San Bernardino legislator faxed a one paragraph letter that did not address the demand for an apology.

"I never have, nor will I ever, make any personal attacks against Mayor Ulloa," he wrote. "I will confine my campaign to issues, discussions and our disagreements on those issues. I look forward to a vigorous debate, conducted with respect."

Although Ulloa initially said last week that she did not view Baca's remark as sexist, Gilliard said the candidate now believes her Democratic opponent owes her an apology.

"When you really think about it and look at it, she concluded that there was a deeper meaning to what he said," said Gilliard. "She relayed to me that she thought Baca had stepped way over the line."

Ross Clark, Baca's campaign manager, said the written statement would stand as the candidate's response to all the demands for an apology.

Published 9/23/1998