70th District

Marilyn C. Brewer's primary victory in the 70th Assembly District earlier this year made it a strong likelihood that she would go on to win the general election in November. This is one of the most Republican districts in California, and the question of succession for outgoing incumbent Gil Ferguson was largely about what kind of Republican would take the seat after him, not whether the district would send a Republican or Democrat to Sacramento.

Going from lamb to lion in the battle to oust Assemblyman Gil Ferguson, Republican primary challenger Mary Hornbuckle has flooded the 70th Assembly District with a half dozen tough campaign mailers over the past week, prompting the incumbent to cry foul.

At first glance, the race between Assemblyman Gil Ferguson and Phyllis Badham doesn't look like much of a race at all. Ferguson, after all, has held the 70th Assembly District seat since 1984 and won his last reelection races handily. Badham, a 30-year-old public relations manager, has never run for office before, much less won an election.

The Measures Measure A: Centralized Jail Initiative--NO Measure B: Irvine General Plan--NO Measure C: Irvine General Plan--YES Measure E: Westminster Fireworks Ban--YES The County Candidates Supervisor, 2nd District--Harriett M. Wieder Supervisor, 4th District--Don R. Roth Supervisor, 5th District, Thomas F. Riley District Attorney--Mike Capizzi Sheriff-Coroner--No endorsement Recorder--No endorsement Assessor--No endorsement Superintendent of Schools--John F.

Representatives to the state Democratic Central Committee from the 70th Assembly District will be selected at a meeting of district Democrats today in Laguna Niguel. The district extends from Newport Beach to San Juan Capistrano and includes Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Dana Point, Mission Viejo and Rancho Santa Margarita. Assembly district officers will be chosen during the same session.

Your recent editorial (May 27) in opposition to Assemblyman Gil Ferguson's reelection ought to take first prize in a bad fiction contest. Your claim that Ferguson has done little to improve the quality of life in his district is nonsense. Ferguson has led the fight to rid California of the sale of degrading and demoralizing pornography from street-side vending machines. As vice chairman of the Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee, Ferguson has tirelessly worked to maintain the fine balance between controlled growth and providing the necessary infrastructure for the residents of his district.

The second-place finisher in the Republican primary for the 70th Assembly District will get a recount of the 44,778 votes cast in the June 7 election, the registrar of voters office said Tuesday. Candidate Thomas G. Reinecke, who lost to Marilyn C. Brewer by 172 votes, will pay the $358-per-day fee for the recount to ensure no votes were mistakenly counted. The recount is scheduled to begin Thursday morning.