ELECTIONS : Local Areas Catch the Edge of 2 Hottest Senate Races; Others Are More Lopsided

The San Gabriel Valley’s four state Senate races are all over the map--literally--with the two liveliest contests occurring in districts that stretch deep into the Inland Empire and north beyond Bakersfield.

Most local voters, for example, have not been able to tune into political advertising in the 16th Senate District race, in which Sen. Don Rogers (R-Bakersfield) is seeking a second term against two opponents. That’s because candidates in the mostly rural district are running most of their political ads on Bakersfield radio and television stations. The district, however, does include parts of Pasadena and Altadena.

And much of the action in the 34th District race--which pits Sen. Ruben S. Ayala (D-Chino) against a strong challenger, Republican Assemblyman Charles W. Bader of Pomona--is taking place in western San Bernardino County. The district also includes part of Pomona and small portions of La Verne and Diamond Bar.

Closer to home, the two other senators seeking reelection are from districts with lopsided Democratic registrations, making the incumbents overwhelming favorites to win.

Sen. Art Torres (D-Los Angeles) is seeking a third term in the 24th Senate District, which includes South Pasadena, East Los Angeles, Koreatown, Chinatown, Little Tokyo and downtown Los Angeles. Democrats outnumber Republicans nearly 3 to 1.

Even though Torres, 44, is facing his first election since he was arrested twice on suspicion of drunk driving and obtained treatment for alcoholism, he has a substantial fund-raising advantage and is expected to win handily.

His Republican opponent, Keith F. Marsh, 47, an attorney, said he hopes to raise money for a mailer that would raise the drunk driving matter and other issues.

“If he wants to drink, that’s fine,” Marsh said, “but he shouldn’t be drinking and driving.”

Torres said he has been open about his alcoholism and recovery efforts. “I hope people realize that this is behind me,” he said. “I think people have seen that I have dealt with it.”

Torres said he hopes to concentrate on such issues as plans for the Los Angeles River basin, educational reform and the search for alternatives to the extension of the Long Beach Freeway through South Pasadena.

David L. Wilson, 54, a carpenter who lives in Los Angeles, is the Libertarian candidate in the race. Wilson said his platform is simple: “no taxes.” He described himself as a “paper candidate,” who is not actively campaigning but is on the ballot to give voters a choice.

Also expected to win easily is state Sen. Charles M. Calderon (D-Whittier), who is running for his first full term in the 26th Senate District after winning a special election in April. The seat was held by Democrat Joseph B. Montoya of Whittier until he was convicted of political corruption charges and sent to federal prison.

The 26th District includes Alhambra, Baldwin Park, El Monte, La Puente, Monterey Park and Montebello.

Calderon is facing Republican Joe Aguilar Urquidi and Libertarian Kim Goldsworthy, the same candidates he defeated in a special election in April.

Calderon, a 40-year-old attorney, grew up in Montebello, served on the school board there and was elected to the Assembly in 1982. He was part of the so-called “Gang of Five” that challenged the leadership of Assembly Speaker Willie Brown in 1988, but fell several votes short of ousting him.

Urquidi, 64, a businessman who lives in Montebello, saw military service in World War II and Korea, held administrative positions in government manpower agencies, has been married 42 years and is the father of nine children.

Goldsworthy, 34, is a computer programmer who has lived in Rosemead for 25 years. He has served as county chairman of the Libertarian Party, given talks on the U.S. Constitution to more than 100 organizations and is a member of Mensa, the high IQ society.

Closer contests are expected in the far-flung 16th and 34th districts.

In fact, the campaign between Ayala and Bader in the 34th is receiving top priority from both the Democratic and Republican parties. Bader, 50, said he has raised more than $1 million for the campaign, and Ayala, 68, expects to approach that figure, too.

Ayala, a conservative Democrat, and Bader, a moderate Republican, have similar views. Both oppose abortion except in limited circumstances and support the death penalty and tough anti-crime measures.

Bader has accused Ayala, who has been in the Senate for 16 years, of growing complacent and remote from the district. Ayala has defended his record, citing a long list of legislative accomplishments.

In the 16th District, Rogers, 62, is being challenged by former Democratic Assemblyman Ray Gonzales, 52, a college teacher and preschool owner who lives in Bakersfield, and Libertarian Kenneth J. Saurenman, 52, a Pasadena painting contractor.

Democrats hold a registration advantage--constituting nearly 50% of district voters, compared to 40% for the Republicans--but Gonzales said the figures are deceptive. Many of those Democrats, he said, are highly conservative.

Gonzales said the 16th District “is a classic example of gerrymandering. It’s probably the worst-designed district in the state.”

He has accused Rogers of neglecting the San Gabriel Valley portion of the district. Rogers has four district offices, but none in the San Gabriel Valley. He serves the area with a local phone number connected to his Bakersfield office.

Gonzales has attacked Rogers for his membership in the politically extreme John Birch Society and his refusal to vote for a Senate resolution praising South African black leader Nelson Mandela.

Rogers said he belonged to the John Birch Society several years ago, but dropped out because of time constraints. He said he regards the society as “a very fine, patriotic organization.”

He was one of two senators to vote against the Mandela resolution. He said he could not support it, claiming Mandela has ties to communism and terrorism.

16TH SENATE DISTRICT The district: parts of Altadena, Glendora and Pasadena; parts of San Bernardino County, including Barstow; all of Kern County, including Bakersfield, and all of Kings County. Candidate: Party Ray Gonzales: Democrat Don Rogers (incumbent): Republican Kenneth J. Saurenman: Libertarian

Party Voters Registered Percent Democrats 160,377 49.89% Republicans 129,750 40.36 Independents 23,685 7.37 Minor Parties* 7,656 2.38 Total 321,468

* American Independent, Peace and Freedom, Libertarian, miscellaneous

1986 Results Votes Percent Don Rogers (R) 89,942 51.99% Jim Young (D) 83,065 48.01

24TH SENATE DISTRICT The district: South Pasadena, East Los Angeles, Koreatown, Chinatown, Little Tokyo and downtown Los Angeles. Candidate: Party Keith F. Marsh: Republican Art Torres (incumbent): Democrat David L. Wilson: Libertarian

Party Voters Registered Percent Democrats 90,632 65.65% Republicans 31,740 22.99 Independents 11,793 8.54 Minor Parties* 3,882 2.81 Total 138,047

* American Independent, Peace and Freedom, Libertarian, miscellaneous

1986 Results Votes Percent Art Torres (D) 49,601 72.15% Lee David Prentiss (R) 16,761 24.38 Laura Brown (Lib) 2,382 3.47

26TH SENATE DISTRICT The district: Alhambra, Baldwin Park, El Monte, La Puente, Monterey Park and Montebello. Candidate: Party Charles M. Calderon (incumbent): Democrat Joe Aguilar Urquidi: Republican Kim Goldsworthy: Libertarian

Party Voters Registered Percent Democrats 128,719 60.17% Republicans 63,399 29.64 Independents 17,519 8.19 Minor Parties* 4,293 2.01 Total 213,930

* American Independent, Peace and Freedom, Libertarian, miscellaneous

April, 1990, Results Votes Percent Charles M. Calderon (D) 22,857 68.10% Joe Aguilar Urquidi (R) 9,098 27.11 Kim Goldsworthy (Lib) 1,601 4.77

34TH SENATE DISTRICT The district: parts of Diamond Bar, La Verne and Pomona; parts of San Bernardino County, including Chino, Colton, Fontana, Montclair, Ontario, Rialto and San Bernardino. Candidate: Party Ruben S. Ayala (incumbent): Democrat Charles W. Bader: Republican

Party Voters Registered Percent Democrats 178,624 51.85% Republicans 136,665 39.67 Independents 22,441 6.51 Minor Parties* 6,766 1.96 Total 344,496

* American Independent, Peace and Freedom, Libertarian, miscellaneous

1986 Results Votes Percent Ruben S. Ayala (D) 93,410 65.86% Steve Turner (R) 48,421 34.14