Local News in Brief : Newport Beach : Hart Raises $12,500 for Ferguson Challenge

The challenger to Assemblyman Gil Ferguson (R-Newport Beach) has raised $12,500 to finance her uphill effort to unseat the incumbent in the Republican primary, according to campaign contribution statements submitted Wednesday to the county Registrar of Voters.

Newport Beach Mayor Pro Tem Evelyn R. Hart had loaned her campaign $4,908 and spent nearly $5,000, leaving her with about $7,700 as of the March 17 reporting deadline.

Ferguson, according to his statements, had $34,629 on hand as of March 17. He has complained that Hart’s candidacy will force him to raise and spend $250,000 to $350,000 to protect his incumbency.