Takasugi Takes Lead in Race for Assembly : Legislature: Three state lawmakers representing Ventura County appear headed toward easy victories.

Oxnard Mayor Nao Takasugi on Tuesday night appeared headed toward becoming the first Asian-American elected to the state Legislature in 14 years, running for an open Assembly seat that represents much of Ventura County.

Despite a strong mood among voters for a change in leadership, three other state lawmakers representing Ventura County were poised for easy victories over poorly financed and lesser-known rivals.

Assemblywoman Cathie Wright (R-Simi Valley), seeking to replace retiring state Sen. Ed Davis, was handily defeating her Democratic opponent Hank Starr, according to late returns.

In the 35th Assembly District, Democratic incumbent Jack O’Connell held a substantial lead over Republican challenger and political novice Alan O. (Lanny) Ebenstein of Santa Barbara. And Assemblywoman Paula Boland (R-Granada Hills) was outpacing Democrat Howard Cohen in the 38th Assembly District, which includes Simi Valley, Fillmore and parts of the San Fernando Valley.

“It’s basically the old story, the man with the most money wins,” said Roz McGrath, a Democrat making her first bid for public office by challenging Takasugi in the 37th Assembly District. Like other political newcomers, she said it was difficult to overcome the “political machine” of a longtime officeholder. “It is tough to run a campaign that is under-funded and under-supported.”

Takasugi, who served 10 years as mayor of Ventura County’s largest city, said he was confident that he would prevail over McGrath, a Camarillo farm manager and schoolteacher.

“I eagerly embrace this opportunity of a new challenge at the state level,” Takasugi said at his victory party in Oxnard on Tuesday night. “Hopefully, my experience here at the city level will help me make the right and tough decisions that have to be made up in Sacramento.”

Takasugi, 70, the Republican nominee, appeared to be the only one of several Asian-Americans on the ballot with a strong chance of winning a seat in the Legislature.

McGrath, the 45-year-old Democratic challenger, attempted to portray Takasugi as a pro-development candidate with little interest in preserving farmland in the district that extends from Oxnard to Thousand Oaks. She also tried to make an issue of his commitment to abortion rights.

But Takasugi defended his record as mayor and successfully put McGrath on the defensive with accusations that she was attempting to develop a portion of her family’s historic farm, which she and her family strongly refuted. As a Republican who supports abortion rights, he also robbed McGrath of the politically potent issue by sharing an endorsement with her from the California Abortion Rights League.

Takasugi also scored a coup by gaining the endorsement of the California Teachers Assn., even though his opponent teaches at an elementary school. Takasugi had a considerable financial advantage throughout the race, raising about $250,000--contrasted with $44,000 for McGrath--that helped him deliver his campaign message to the voters.

“I like the man,” said Alfonso Castillo, 50, a registered Democrat who broke party ranks on Tuesday to vote for Takasugi. “I’ve known him personally for many years. He was as good as a councilman as mayor. And he’s a very good man.”

In the state’s 19th Senate District race, Wright since the first of the year had raised $247,000, three times more than her Democratic opponent.

But Starr, a 60-year-old Bell Canyon attorney, mounted an aggressive, low-budget campaign that trumpeted his support of abortion rights and his endorsements from teachers’ organizations.

Wright, 63, opposes abortion and favors strict spending limits on public education, making up budget shortfalls by eliminating administrative positions.

Wright, a Assemblywoman since 1980, did not shy from her conservative views, which she said more closely reflect those of the district. Republicans hold a comfortable 45% to 40% edge over Democratic voters in the 19th Senate District, which covers most populated areas of Ventura County.

Wright’s support extended into heavily Democratic Oxnard, a city she has never represented. Several voters said they backed Wright because she is a woman.

“I think we need more women’s voices in there than the way it’s been,” said David Hansen, 52, a Democrat and machinist with Abex Aerospace. “They have a different view on things than men do.”

In the 35th Assembly District race, incumbent Jack O’Connell raised more than $209,000 to lead an aggressive Democratic voter-registration drive in Ventura County as part of his campaign against Republican challenger Lanny Ebenstein, a college lecturer in Santa Barbara.

The newly redrawn Assembly district, which is 45% Democrat and 39% Republican, encompasses Ventura, Santa Paula, the Ojai Valley and much of Santa Barbara County.

Ebenstein, 33, sought to tarnish O’Connell’s image by drawing attention to his leadership role in the Democratic-controlled Assembly, saying he was partly to blame for the legislative gridlock in Sacramento.

But O’Connell, 41, largely ignored his challenger and sought to capitalize on his reputation as a hard-working legislator, accessible to his constituents.

“I know him and his family,” said Laura Gulofsen, a 60-year-old retired kindergarten teacher in Ventura. “He is honest and he doesn’t get involved in bribes or scandals.”

In the 38th Assembly District race, Howard Cohen, a 29-year-old unemployed North Hills activist, attacked incumbent Paula Boland for her anti-abortion stand and for wanting to roll back environmental regulations to attract new businesses to California.

Boland, 52, cited her experience and her tough stand on crime as advantages over her opponent.

Many Simi Valley voters said Tuesday that they were unfamiliar with the two candidates--both of whom live in the San Fernando Valley--and thus voted along party lines or abstained from voting in the race.