Voters’ Guide to South Bay Candidates on June 7 Ballot : ASSEMBLY

51ST DISTRICT

Area: Athens, Hawthorne, Inglewood, Lawndale, Lennox, and portions of Mar Vista, South-Central and Westchester.

Registration: 71% D, 18% R

Background: Unlike in 1992, Assemblyman Curtis R. Tucker Jr. will face Republican opposition in November. But he has a solid political base because registration is lopsided in favor of the Democrats.

Candidate occupation:

* Democrat: Curtis R. Tucker Jr., incumbent.

* Republican: Adam M. Michelin, businessman

52ND DISTRICT

Area: Gardena, Lynwood, Paramount, Willowbrook and portions of Compton, Florence, Long Beach and Los Angeles.

Registration: 80% D, 11% R

Background: Willard H. Murray beat Patricia A. Moore two years ago and predicts he will do so again. But he’s been condemned by Compton civic leaders for supporting a state takeover of the Compton school district last year. Moore also has some political baggage. She is an alleged target in an FBI probe dating to her time as a Compton city councilwoman. But she says federal authorities have not contacted her and she knows nothing about the case.

Candidate occupation:

* Democrat: Stephen Hamlin, businessman; Willard H. Murray, incumbent; Patricia A. Moore, public affairs consultant

* Republican: Richard A. Rorex, engineer

53RD DISTRICT

Area: El Segundo, Hermosa Beach, Lomita, Manhattan Beach, Marina del Rey, Redondo Beach, Torrance, Rancho Park, Venice, Playa del Rey, and portions of Palos Verdes Estates, Westchester and Mar Vista.

Registration: 45% D, 41% R

Background: David Bohline and Julian Sirull, both from the insurance business, aren’t spending much on the primary, have little name recognition and have never held elected office. The one who wins the primary will face Debra Bowen. Some Republicans have all but conceded her reelection. But Bowen was an unknown when she won the seat two years ago.

Candidate occupation:

* Democrat: Debra Bowen, incumbent

* Republican: David Bohline, casualty claims adjuster; Julian Sirull, insurance agent

* Libertarian: William Gaillard, public works employee

* Peace and Freedom: J. Kevin Bishop, cable installer

54TH DISTRICT

Area: Catalina Island, Rancho Palos Verdes, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, San Pedro, Signal Hill, and portions of Palos Verdes Estates, Wilmington, Hawaiian Gardens and Long Beach.

Registration: 45% D, 41% R

Background: Republican voters on the Palos Verdes Peninsula could split their votes between Jeffrey Earle and Rancho Palos Verdes Mayor Steve Kuykendall, both of whom are well-known locally. So it could be up to Long Beach residents in incumbent Betty Karnette’s hometown to cast the swing votes. Analysts say she beat longtime Assemblyman Gerald N. Felando in 1992 because of his lack of campaigning in the district’s east side.

Candidate occupation:

* Democrat: Betty Karnette, incumbent

* Republican: Jeffrey Earle, restaurant executive; Steve Kuykendall, mayor of Rancho Palos Verdes, businessman

* Libertarian: Alan Carlan, aerospace engineer/businessman

* Peace and Freedom: Patrick John McCoy, teacher/video producer

55TH DISTRICT

Area: Carson, Compton, Rancho Dominguez, Harbor Gateway, Harbor City, and portions of Long Beach and Wilmington.

Registration: 68% D, 19% R

Background: Former Assemblyman Richard Floyd considered running but decided not to once the filing deadline arrived. That left incumbent Juanita M. McDonald unchallenged in the primary. She should have an easy time in November with no Republican challengers.

Candidate occupation:

* Democrat: Juanita M. McDonald, incumbent

* Libertarian: Daniel Dalton, businessman

STATE SENATE

28TH DISTRICT

Area: Carson, Compton, Rancho Dominguez, El Segundo, Hermosa Beach, Lomita, Harbor Gateway, Harbor City, Manhattan Beach, Marina del Rey, Playa del Ray, Redondo Beach, Torrance, Rancho Park, Venice, Wilmington, and portions of Long Beach, Palos Verdes Estates, Westchester and Mar Vista.

Registration: 52% D, 33% R

Background: Incumbent Sen. Ralph C. Dills, 84, helped form Cal State Long Beach, has met Franklin D. Roosevelt and refused to support Japanese internment camps. But despite a legislative and judicial career dating to 1938, he’s still new to many of the voters in his reapportioned district. George Nakano is the strongest challenger of Dills’ career, although Mike Sidley could draw away some of the anti-incumbent vote. Republicans see a chance to win in November if Dills faces David Barrett Cohen.

Candidate occupation:

* Democrat: Ralph C. Dills, incumbent; George Nakano, Torrance councilman/educator; Jo Ann Rodda, real estate broker; Mike Sidley, attorney

* Republican: David Barrett Cohen, attorney/educator

* Libertarian: Arvid Donner, private teacher

* Peace and Freedom: Cindy Henderson, customer service representative

MEASURES

HAWTHORNE SCHOOL DISTRICT

Proposition B: Should the Hawthorne School District issue up to $15 million in bonds to renovate schools and build new ones?

Background: Supporters say schools are overcrowded and need repairs and renovation. If the measure passes, the district will be eligible for matching state building funds.

U.S. CONGRESS

35TH DISTRICT

Area: Gardena, Hawthorne, Inglewood, Lennox, and portions of Florence and Los Angeles.

Registration: 79% D, 11% R

Background: The primary race will be a wash. Incumbent Maxine Waters has no opposition, and neither does Republican Nate Truman.

Candidate occupation:

* Democrat: Maxine Waters, incumbent

* Republican: Nate Truman, businessman

36TH DISTRICT

Area: Catalina Island, El Segundo, Hermosa Beach, Lawndale, Lomita, Manhattan Beach, Marina del Rey, Palos Verdes Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, Redondo Beach, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, Torrance, Mar Vista, Westchester, Venice, Playa del Rey, Harbor Gateway, Harbor City, San Pedro.

Registration: 43% D, 42% R

Background: Both Susan Brooks and Ron Florance are for abortion rights--muting an issue that split the Republicans two years ago. But Republicans can’t get too hopeful yet. Brooks and Florance have engaged in a war of words. Will a bruised candidate have to face incumbent Jane Harman? The incumbent, meanwhile, has shored up support among aerospace executives and some well-known Republicans, including former Torrance Mayor Katy Geissert.

Candidate occupation:

* Democrat: Jane Harman, incumbent

* Republican: Susan Brooks, councilwoman, Rancho Palos Verdes/businesswoman/educator; Ron Florance, businessman

* Libertarian: Jack Tyler, laser engineer

* American Independent: Joseph (Joe) Fields, no occupation listed

37TH DISTRICT

Area: Carson, Compton, Lynwood, Rancho Dominguez, East Compton, Willowbrook, Florence, and portions of Long Beach and Los Angeles.

Registration: 77% D, 13% R

Background: In March, newspapers reported that Walter R. Tucker III was part of an FBI probe of 10 Compton city officials. Tucker, former mayor of Compton, has declined to comment. An opportunity for opponent Lew Prulitsky? He says he won’t make it an issue.

Candidate occupation:

* Democrat: Lew Prulitsky, broker/businessman; Walter R. Tucker III, incumbent

* Libertarian: Guy Wilson, merchant seaman

38TH DISTRICT

Area: Bellflower, Downey, Paramount, Signal Hill, and portions of Lakewood, Long Beach and Los Angeles.

Registration: 51% D, 37% R

Background: Incumbent Steve Horn is recovering from prostate cancer surgery done Monday. A spokeswoman said the surgery appeared to be successful. His primary opponent, John B. Duke, a political newcomer, is running his campaign from the boat where he lives in the Long Beach Marina. The winner will face Democrat Peter Mathews, who ran against Horn in 1992.

Candidate occupation:

* Democrat: Peter Mathews, professor of American government

* Republican: John B. Duke, quality assurance consultant; Steve Horn, incumbent

* Libertarian: Lester W. Mueller, project engineer

* Peace and Freedom: Richard K. Green, project manager