Judge Stays Out of Dispute Over Ferguson Fund Switch

An Orange County Superior Court judge declined Friday to intervene in next month’s special state Senate election, clearing an issue that could have been a financial setback for two Republican candidates.

Judge William F. Rylaarsdam had been asked to prevent Assemblymen Gil Ferguson (R-Newport Beach) and Frank Hill (R-Whittier) from using money that they raised for their Assembly campaigns in the state Senate race.

A complaint was filed earlier this month by another Republican candidate, Ron Isles, a Brea city councilman.

Attorney David A. Robinson, representing Hill, said the judge noted that the issue of transferring money between campaign committees is being considered in a separate federal lawsuit and said that any ruling should be made at that level.

In the meantime, Rylaarsdam let stand an opinion by the state Fair Political Practices Commission that permits the transfers. Both Hill and Ferguson said they obtained approval from the FPPC before they transferred the money.

Hill, Isles and Ferguson are among eight candidates seeking to fill a vacancy left by the December resignation of state Sen. William Campbell (R-Hacienda Heights).

The special primary is scheduled for Feb. 6. If none of the candidates receives more than 51% of the vote, a general election among the top vote-getters in each party will be held April 10.

The state Senate’s 31st District straddles the boundary between Los Angeles and Orange counties. It stretches from Whittier and West Covina south to Laguna Beach.