LUNGREN HIT FOR SPEECH AT MEN-ONLY CLUB

An appearance by gubernatorial candidate is more than he bargained for.

SAN MARINO-State Attorney General Dan Lungren, appearing to make a speech
about crime, instead found himself confronting questions about clubs that
deny entry to women.

The state's top law enforcement official has no immediate plans to speak
before any other meetings organized by exclusively male organizations,
spokesman Rob Stutzman said Friday.

Stutzman added that Thursday's speech was before a "mixed audience of
civic-minded people" who turned out to hear a speech about California
justice.

"It was not a campaign event," he said in a telephone interview from
Sacramento.

Lungren, considered the Republican front-runner for governor, spoke at
the gathering sponsored by the San Marino City Club. He was confronted by a
female vice president of a financial firm who asked Lungren if he was aware
of allegations the group discriminates against women.

June Cowgill was admitted to the speech at San Marino High School because
women are allowed at public events sponsored by the private San Marino City
Club.

"I was informed there is a comparable women's club in this community,"
Lungren said at the Thursday event. "I don't think I belong to any group
that is all male - right now."

City Club members include business leaders and attorneys, among others.
Lungren replied he understood the club allows women at certain meetings.
City Manager Deborah Bell cannot join, although her male predecessor was a
member.

Members said bylaws prohibit women from joining, and they maintain the
73-year-old club is legal. Membership is open to all men who live within
the San Marino Unified School District who are sponsored by a current
member.

"Women can come to the events, but they can't be members," President
William P. Barry said. "I haven't seen any men trying to get into the
Women's Club or the Junior League."