STATE ELECTIONS LEGISLATIVE RACES : Hill Takes Big Lead in Bitterly Fought 31st Senate Race

Capping a bitter and expensive campaign, Assemblyman Frank Hill (R-Whittier) appeared headed for victory Tuesday in a special election for a state Senate seat in one of California’s most Republican districts.

Hill held a 3-to-1 lead over his Democratic opponent in early returns from more than 20,000 absentee ballots. The four-term legislator was seeking to replace state Sen. William Campbell (R-Hacienda Heights), who resigned in December after serving more than 20 years in the Legislature.

Hill said Tuesday evening that his campaign had spent more than $90,000 on an absentee-ballot strategy, but he was still surprised at the wide margin. “I think it’s certainly larger than what I thought it was going to be,” he said.

Hill had more votes in just the absentee ballots Tuesday than he had when he won the special primary for the seat in February. He said the results made him optimistic about winning, but he said it was too early to declare victory.

Hill, 36, had been favored to win despite vicious attacks by his opponents who focused on reports that he has been targeted by the FBI in its investigation of political corruption at the state Capitol.

“Obviously, I think it was a factor since 80% of the mail was focused on it,” Hill said earlier in the day. “I think it was reassuring to find that the folks in the (Assembly) district I have represented for eight years trusted me and hung in with me.”

Democrat Janice Graham, 53, who opposed Hill in Tuesday’s election, agreed that the Republican voters who dominate the district appeared loyal to Hill and that conservatives may also have been attracted to Hill’s opposition to unrestricted abortion.

Graham, a former schoolteacher who lives in Laguna Hills, had expected state Democratic leaders and abortion-rights groups to join her campaign when Hill narrowly defeated Assemblyman Gil Ferguson (R-Newport Beach) in a bitter primary in February. But statewide leaders said they still considered her race unwinnable.

The 31st Senate District stretches from West Covina in Los Angeles County to Laguna Beach in Orange County. It has a registration edge for the GOP of about 54% to 36%.

Gov. George Deukmejian scheduled the race when Campbell resigned after more than 20 years in the Legislature. Campbell was named president of the California Manufacturers Assn.

The third candidate on Tuesday’s ballot in the 31st Senate District was Robert Lewis from the American Independent Party.

There were two other special elections Tuesday for openings in the Legislature.

In Los Angeles County’s 26th Senate District, Assemblyman Charles M. Calderon (D-Whittier) was leading in the race for the Senate seat formerly held by Joseph B. Montoya (D-Whittier), who quit in February after his conviction on political corruption charges.

Calderon held a large lead in the early returns, although the registrar had received only about 5,000 absentee ballots.

A third special state election was held Tuesday in San Diego to fill an Assembly seat left vacant when Lucy Killea won election to the state Senate last December. With nine candidates in the race, none was expected to receive more than 50% of the vote, forcing a June runoff election between the top vote-getters from each party.

Nine candidates--five Democrats, three Republicans and a Peace and Freedom Party member--were on the ballot. Former San Diego City Councilman Mike Gotch, a Democrat, and Republican Jeff Marston, a former aide to ex-U.S. Sen. S.I. Hayakawa (R-California), each had about a third of the votes in the early returns.

TUSTIN RACE

Councilman John Kelly lost as three TRAC candidates won. B6

PARK BOND

Financing for San Juan Capistrano “Central Park” is approved. B6

FULL RESULTS

Vote tables with results of local elections. B6

ELECTION RETURNS

31st State Senate District

(Orange, Los Angeles counties) 75% Precincts Reporting

Vote % Janice Graham, D 14,436 34.3 Robert Lewis, AI 1,270 3.0

Tustin City Council (4-year term)

2 Elected

100% Precincts Reporting

Votes % Charles E. Puckett 2,850 34.0 Leslie Ann Pontious 2,664 31.7 Carole Bryant 1,113 13.3 John Kelly * 1,061 12.6 Dennis E. Pedersen 703 8.4

City Council (2-year term)

Votes % Jim Potts 2,125 49.0 John Norman Butler 1,412 32.6 Berklee A. Maughan 797 18.4 Turnout 23.3%

San Juan Capistrano

Measure D--Park Bond

0% Precincts Reporting

Votes % Yes 3,504 71.2 No 1,419 28.8

* Incumbent

Elected candidates and measures are in bold type.