Abortion, Ethics Turn Senate Race Topsy-Turvy : Election: There are no clear favorites in the battle for the 31st District. Incumbent lawmakers seeking the vacant seat are being stung by challengers.

Conventional political wisdom said that Assemblyman Frank Hill, who had climbed the ranks and gained the right endorsements, was best positioned as the heir apparent to the 31st State Senate District seat left vacant by William Campbell’s resignation in December.

The prospects brightened for Hill (R-Whittier), the best-financed and best-known candidate in the district, when Gov. George Deukmejian in late December scheduled a Feb. 6 special election to fill Campbell’s seat, making the campaign one of the shortest ever in California.

But the campaign for the heavily Republican seat--which straddles the boundary between Los Angeles and Orange counties--is being watched closely in Sacramento because, in the politics of 1990, conventional wisdom is getting a thorough review.

In this campaign, two independently wealthy Republican candidates are expected to spend almost a combined $1 million of their own money to pound two other Republican candidates, Hill and Assemblyman Gil Ferguson (R-Newport Beach), with some of the most thorny issues of the year to confront state-level officeholders.

The two Republican challengers are Ron Isles, a Brea city councilman and former owner of an electronics manufacturing company, and Gary Miller, a Diamond Bar city councilman and owner of a land-banking business.

Both have battered Hill and Ferguson on an issue that might be used against many state legislators this year--ethics. Isles and Miller have campaigned hard on an anti-incumbency theme, telling voters that Sacramento is so plagued with corruption that they should elect an entirely new Legislature.

Polls have shown that the public is receptive to such a message in the wake of a series of corruption scandals, including an FBI investigation in Sacramento that resulted in the conviction Friday of state Sen. Joseph Montoya (D-Whittier).

Hill has been most heavily attacked because he is still a target in that same FBI investigation. But Ferguson complained that “they tar the brush over and it gets on my name too.”

“You could have a guy with impeccable credentials, and if he’s in politics today, it’s to these two guys’ (Isles’ and Miller’s) advantage that they can say these guys are all bad,” Ferguson said.

Another issue that could play a major role in the outcome Tuesday is abortion.

The pro-choice movement, which was a major factor in two recent state-level upset victories, has been working on behalf of Isles, the only pro-choice Republican in the race. Pro-choice groups from both Orange and Los Angeles counties endorsed Isles, believing that a Democratic victory is unlikely.

As a result, Isles is using the same formula that Assemblywoman Tricia Hunter (R-San Marcos) employed in her victory last summer by appealing to Democratic voters to cross party lines and cast their votes on the abortion issue.

“In a low turnout race, a candidate who is pro-abortion and Republican . . . can pick up enough Democratic votes on that single issue . . . to tip the scales,” Ferguson said. “The potential is strong” for a repeat of the Hunter race, he added.

Nancy Skinner, a Republican leader with Pro-Choice Orange County, said: “I see no reason why this should not be a major factor. The people who are working with me are people who have never been involved in politics before. It’s that kind of energy I’m feeling all through Orange County.”

Because the candidates are relying almost entirely on direct mail, the campaign has been invisible to many, making it hard to predict the outcome. Most believe, however, there is no clear front-runner.

Sources said a recent poll by state Republicans found the four GOP candidates bunched in a tight pack, with Isles and Miller holding a slight edge over Ferguson and Hill. However, the poll also showed a large bloc of undecided voters.

Ferguson is counting on Republican-rich South Orange County to make the difference for him. And Hill’s edge is in his Los Angeles-based Assembly district, where he won reelection in 1988 with 63% of the vote even after the FBI’s investigation was announced.

If none of the candidates receives more than 50% of the vote on Tuesday--as experts predict--a runoff is scheduled April 10 between the top vote-getters in each party.

The 31st Senate District stretches from West Covina and Whittier in the north to Laguna Beach in the south.

There are three Democrats in the race and one American Independent Party candidate.

Democrat Janice Graham, who ran unsuccessfully for the 31st Senate seat against Campbell in 1988, is hoping to reach the runoff and defeat the Republican candidate on either abortion or ethics.

Graham, a former schoolteacher from Laguna Hills who is pro-choice, said she would use the abortion issue against any of the candidates with the exception of Isles. However, on Friday, she held a press conference to blast Isles for purportedly unethical behavior in his business dealings.

The Senate race has been dominated by mudslinging in the mail, at press conferences and in an angry exchange at a recent candidates’ forum. Hill and Ferguson were originally the main targets. But in a possible indication of their unexpected strength, the attacks have turned to Isles and Miller.

Isles and Miller have been criticized by their foes for their campaign-reform proposals. Both are financing their own campaigns and don’t have to solicit contributions.

And while Isles has blasted his opponents for unethical behavior, he was criticized this week for allegedly abusing a tax loophole. Isles is involved in a court battle with the Internal Revenue Service about how much he should pay in taxes for a company that he located in the Virgin Islands.

Isles’ critics have charged that the location of the company was intended to avoid taxes. He said, however, the dispute is over different interpretations of the tax law.

Meanwhile, opponents of Miller accused him this week of misconduct related to his land-banking business.

Miller was accused of profiting on a land deal as a result of his negotiations as a city official for a new road in Diamond Bar.

Miller said, however, that he told officials about the property he owned before he was appointed negotiator. He said the property has since been sold and that he did not profit from the decision.

Miller attributed the charges to his emergence as a threat to Hill and Ferguson. He said that they and other legislators should fear his campaign’s theme of running against the government in Sacramento.

“I shined the light on something here,” he said. “It’s going to be a tough year in Sacramento for incumbents. If I win this thing, they better doggone start shaking.”

31ST STATE SENATE DISTRICT REPUBLICANS Gil Ferguson Home: Laguna Beach Age: 66 Occupation: Assemblyman Background: Former Marine Corps officer, serving 26 years; owner of Corporate Communications, a Newport Beach public relations agency he founded in 1972. Issues: Campaigned on his record as a military officer, businessman, family man and legislator. Contributions: $60,969 (includes $17,000 loan to himself). Ron Isles Home: Brea Age: 51 Occupation: Brea city councilman Background: Lawyer since 1986. Founded Isles Industries in 1970, an electronics manufacturingcompany. Sold the company in 1981. Former member of the Brea Planning Commission. Issues: Pro-choice on abortion and ethics in government. Contributions: $189,039 (includes $175,000 loan to himself). Frank Hill Home: Whittier Age: 36 Occupation: Assemblyman Background: Campaign worker while in high school and college. Elected to the Assembly in 1982 at age 28. Became the governor’s liaison to the Assembly Republican caucus in 1987. Leader of California’s English-only initiative and legislation. Issues: Campaigned on his eight years of experience in Assembly and “reputation in Sacramento for getting things done.” Contributions: $297,651. Gary Miller Home: Diamond Bar Age: 41 Occupation: City councilman, real estate sales Background: Owner of a land-banking firm that buys real estate and sells to builders. City Council member for one year. Issues: Ethics in government, transportation. Contributions: $273,500 (includes $270,000 loan to himself). DEMOCRATS Janice Graham Home: Laguna Hills Age: 53 Occupation: Democratic Party officer Background: Secretary of Orange County Democratic Central Committee. Co-chairwoman of state Democratic Party’s Affirmative Action Committee. Former high school teacher and former owner of a North Carolina bed-and- breakfast inn. Democratic nominee in 1988 for this seat. Ran for New York Assembly in 1982. Issues: Pro-choice on abortion. Long-term health care, prenatal care. Contributions: $4,118 (includes $2,258 in loans from herself and others). Bradley John McFadden Home: West Covina Age: 34 Occupation: Lawyer, West Covina city councilman Background: Legal focus on family law and real state. Active in Democratic campaigns, Jaycees and chamber of commerce. City councilman since April, 1988. Issues: Pro-choice on abortion. Tougher law enforcement. Contributions: $12,068 (includes $3,400 loan to himself). Thomas M. Whaling Home: El Toro Age: 56 Occupation: Lawyer Background: Board member of a rescue mission in Santa Ana. Ran unsuccessfully for Assembly 5n Orange County as Republican in 1966. Joined Democrats in 1970. Founder in 1965 of Partners for Progress, an organization to create jobs for minorities. Issues: Children, as they are affected by drugs, gang violence and education. Contributions: Less than $1,000. AMERICAN INDEPENDENT Robert Lewis Home: Rowland Heights Age: 38 Occupation: Engineer Background: Worked 10 years with Sabina Engineering & Electronic Industries in Anaheim. Former Republican activist and candidate for the Assembly in Orange County in 1978. Switched parties in 1988. Leader in a committee called Throw the Rascals Out. Issues: Ethics in government. Wants to limit the terms of elected officials. Contributions: $1,260 (includes $925 loan to himself) DEMOGRAPHICS

Number Percent VOTER REGISTRATION Total 386,579 100.0 Republicans 210,117 54.3 Democrats 137,573 35.6 Other 38,889 10.1 BY RACE White 509,101 86.6 Black 12,101 2.1 Asian 27,511 4.7 Others 39,359 6.7 Total 588,027 100.0 Hispanic 93,955 16.0 BY SEX Men 288,902 49.1 Women 299,127 50.9 EMPLOYMENT White collar 186,954 65.6 Blue collar 68,485 24.0 Service 27,454 9.6 Agriculture 1,964 0.7 Total 284,857 100.0 HOUSING Renter occupied 113,281 19.5 Owner occupied 467,324 80.5 Total units 580,616 100.0

MISCELLANEOUS Median household income: $24,013 Per capita income: $9,797 Median home value: $109,050 Median contract rent: $368 Sources: California Data Network--The Rose Institute; Los Angeles and Orange registrars offices, individual candidates.