CALIFORNIA IN BRIEF : CENTRAL CALIFORNIA : 8 File to Run for 27th Assembly Seat

The filing period in the 27th Assembly District ended with five Democrats and three Republicans vying for the seat that represents residents of Stanislaus and Merced counties. If no one gets a majority in the Dec. 5 election, a runoff vote will be held Jan. 30 for the seat left vacant when Gary Condit was elected to Congress last month. Republican candidates are Modesto Mayor Carol Whiteside, former Waterford City Councilman Zane Johnston and Modesto City Councilman Dick Lang, who has won the backing of the party and Gov. George Deukmejian. Democratic hopefuls are Stanislaus County Supervisors Sal Canella and Pat Paul, county Democratic Central Committee Chairman John Lazar, teacher Carmen Sabatino and former Condit aide Peggy Crowther.