Frank Hill

State Sen. Frank Hill (R-Whittier), who said recently that he would not endorse anyone as his successor in the 52nd Assembly District, changed his mind last week and endorsed Diamond Bar Councilman Paul Horcher. Hill said he endorsed Horcher because of Horcher's support during his campaign for the state Senate earlier this year.

A federal court judge Tuesday delayed the political corruption trial of state Sen. Frank Hill (R-Whittier) and former legislative aide Terry E. Frost until May 9. Hill and Frost were originally set to go to trial on March 21, along with their co-defendant, Assemblyman Pat Nolan (R-Glendale). But last week Nolan pleaded guilty to racketeering and resigned his office. The former Assembly GOP leader is due to report to federal prison March 28, when he will begin serving a 33-month sentence.

Republican State Senate candidate Ron Isles launched his first attack Tuesday in what could be a messy campaign by charging that Republican opponent Frank Hill "is moonlighting for special interests." Isles, a candidate for the special election to replace State Sen. William Campbell, issued a statement saying the Whittier assemblyman collected $52,412 last year in gifts and honorariums. That is more than Hill's $44,000 legislative salary, he said.

Jurors at state Sen. Frank Hill's political corruption trial on Monday were painted two sharply contrasting portraits of the veteran Whittier Republican--one a crooked politician willing to shake down a contributor, the other an honorable lawmaker misled by an aide. In summing up his case on the trial's 16th day, Assistant U.S. Atty. John Vincent portrayed Hill as knowingly taking an illegal $2,500 payoff from an undercover FBI agent at a meeting in a hotel suite across from the Capitol.

The state Fair Political Practices Commission said Tuesday that it is reviewing a complaint by Democratic state Senate candidate Janice Graham alleging that Republicans meddled with her primary campaign earlier this month. Graham of Laguna Hills said a Republican political action committee in Sacramento was responsible for spending $17,000 to mail copies of a letter in support of her campaign for the special primary for the 31st State Senate District seat held Feb. 6.

Times policy is to endorse selectively, on a case-by-case basis. Here are recommendations in three state races: RICHARD KATZ (39th Assembly District): There is no contest here. Katz, in the Assembly since 1980, faces no credible opposition in political novice--and extreme conservative--Nicholas Fitzgerald for this solidly Democratic seat in the San Fernando Valley.

Still proclaiming his innocence, former state Sen. Frank Hill (R-Whittier) on Monday was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison for taking an illegal $2,500 payment from an undercover FBI agent participating in a Capitol sting operation. U.S. District Judge Edward J. Garcia ordered Hill, who resigned his Senate seat in July after his conviction on public corruption charges, to report to federal prison authorities by Oct. 12.

State Sen. Frank Hill (R-Whittier), who said last week that he would not endorse anyone as his successor in the 52nd Assembly District, changed his mind this week and endorsed Diamond Bar Councilman Paul Horcher. Hill said he endorsed Horcher because of Horcher's support during his campaign for the state Senate earlier this year.

Former state Sen. Frank Hill (R-Whittier) reported to the minimum-security federal prison camp near Boron on Wednesday to begin serving a 46-month sentence on political corruption charges. Also reporting to the desert encampment was Hill's co-defendant, former legislative aide Terry E. Frost, who began a 21-month sentence. Hill was found guilty of extortion, conspiracy and money laundering for taking a $2,500 payment from an undercover FBI agent in 1988. Frost was found guilty of conspiracy.

Attorneys for Assemblyman Pat Nolan (R-Glendale), Sen. Frank Hill (R-Whittier) and a former legislative aide won a preliminary victory Thursday in their attempt to block public release of a court document justifying an FBI search of the lawmakers' Capitol offices in 1988. The U.S.