Zelman Backs Limited Form of No-Fault Plan

Walter Zelman, a candidate for the Democratic nomination for insurance commissioner, endorsed no-fault auto insurance Friday, but conditioned his support on it being restricted to minor accidents and said cost savings realized by the insurance companies would have to be passed directly on to consumers.

Zelman also said that, under the kind of no-fault plan he was prepared to support, consumers could not have their premiums increased as a result of making a claim after a no-fault accident. He agreed, however, that several such claims for frequent accidents could be followed by such an increase.

Only one other Democratic candidate, Alhambra City Councilman Michael Blanco, has endorsed no-fault, while several of the five candidates for the Republican nomination, including apparent GOP front-runners Wes Bannister and Tom Skornia, have done so.