8 Candidates Vie to Fill Campbell’s State Senate Seat

One thing became clear as Tuesday ended the filing period for the special election to replace state Sen. William Campbell: At least four candidates in the race have a common target.

He is another candidate--Assemblyman Frank Hill (R-Whittier).

Campbell (R-Hacienda Heights) abruptly left office earlier this month after 20 years of elective office to become president of the California Manufacturers Assn.

Gov. George Deukmejian set a special Feb. 6 primary to replace him.

As expected, Hill, Assemblyman Gil Ferguson (R-Newport Beach), Brea City Councilman Ron Isles and Diamond Bar City Councilman Gary G. Miller will compete in the Republican primary. Janice Lynn Graham, who lost an election to Campbell, El Toro attorney Thomas M. Whaling, and West Covina Councilman Bradley J. McFadden are the Democratic candidates. Rowland Heights resident Robert W. Lewis is the American Independent Party candidate.

The sprawling 31st Senate District straddles Los Angeles and Orange counties, stretching north to West Covina and south to Laguna Beach. Registered Republicans in the district outnumber Democrats 54% to 36%, and Ferguson and Hill are considered front-runners in the race.

Hill, 35, is one of five elected state officials being investigated by the FBI in connection with influence peddling in the state Capitol. Hill’s office was searched, but he has not been charged.

Ferguson, 66, has blasted the governor and other Republican leaders in Sacramento for what he said was a Machiavellian plot to eliminate him from the race to leave the way clear for Hill.

On Tuesday, Ferguson said: “I’ve already promised Hill I would not do anything to hurt his reputation.” But the three-term assemblyman added, “I think the public knows that issue (the FBI investigation) already. It’s a done deal. He’s already shot himself in the foot, and it’s not necessary for me to stomp on his foot.”

Ferguson has charged that Hill supporters pushed Deukmejian to call a special election quickly so that Ferguson, who recently moved from Corona del Mar to Laguna Beach, would not meet the residency requirement. However, the secretary of state’s office has determined that Ferguson does meet the residency requirement.

Whaling, Isles and Graham, a retired businesswoman and teacher from Laguna Hills, said Hill or his backers specifically asked the governor to call a quick election for Hill’s benefit.

“I think there’s a tremendous amount of loyalty in Sacramento among various legislators,” Isles said. “I think Frank Hill has been an easy vote for most of those people, and I think he’s calling in his chips.”

Whaling vowed not to mention specific shortcomings among the candidates but added, “There’s a real problem with Hill taking money in honorariums.”

Hill could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

Bob Gore, a Deukmejian spokesman, dismissed the allegations about the timing of the primary as “absolutely untrue.”

“The governor set the election without regard to any specific candidate,” Gore said. “To my knowledge, none of the major Republican candidates even spoke to the governor.”

Campbell, 54, left office in the middle of this month. He had recently drawn heavy criticism for leading a group of fellow state legislators on a junket to New York to meet with bond houses. The trip, included visits to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Radio City Music Hall and a Broadway show, all at taxpayers’ expense.

Atty. Gen. John K. Van de Kamp is closing a lengthy investigation into $165,000 in consulting fees paid to Campbell’s wife and a former aide for a 1987 conference on women sponsored by Campbell’s office.

Tuesday, the candidates interviewed predicted the race also will focus on campaign spending.

Ferguson, who said he plans to spend about $350,000 on the campaign, said he expects Hill to spend about $600,000. Isles said he is willing to spend $500,000 of his own money.

“It’s the only way I can get in the ballgame,” Isles said. “I don’t have the insurance industry and the gambling interests and Pacific Telephone chipping in money to my campaign.” He said he cited those industries because they have appeared on campaign contribution disclosures filed by Hill.

Graham, who said she plans to spend about $100,000 on the campaign, and Whaling, who said he signed an affidavit Tuesday vowing not to spend more than $1,000, both called the campaign war chests of Hill, Isles and Ferguson “obscene.”