Addressing the Issue of Where Ross Johnson Really Calls His Home

Home is where the tax exemption is: The “mystery” of where Assemblyman Ross Johnson (R-Placentia) really lives--Sacramento, Fullerton, Placentia, perhaps even Newport Beach--seems to get deeper by the day.

Democrat Allan L. Dollison, a law clerk who is challenging Johnson for his 72nd District seat, claims to have documents that show Johnson filed for a one-time-only $7,000 exemption for his home in Sacramento on his property tax bill in 1988. Dollison suggests the tax exemption means Johnson really lives in Sacramento, not North County, where his district is.

“This document has the legal effect of establishing Sacramento as Johnson’s principal residence,” Dollison said last week, adding that Johnson is registered to vote in Placentia.

Dollison hoped to spring the document on Johnson on Friday at a debate on KOCE Channel 50, but Johnson was a no-show. Debate moderator Jim Cooper said Johnson’s office said he had jury duty, but Johnson’s spokeswoman said he had never agreed to the debate due to a scheduling conflict.

Johnson’s place of residence has become an issue because he is said to be shopping for a home in Newport Beach, where he plans to run next year for state Sen. Marian Bergeson’s soon-to-be-vacated seat. Assemblyman Gil Ferguson (R-Newport Beach) who already has announced his candidacy for Bergeson’s post, also has criticized Johnson for seeking reelection to the Assembly seat while campaigning in Newport Beach.

Johnson, who usually avoids the news media, was unavailable for comment.

Dollar Politics

A listing of money raised and spent as of Sept. 30 in some of Orange County’s legislative races in the Nov. 8 election.

Candidate Raised Spent 34th State Senate District: Republican Rob Hurtt, incumbent $570,868 $288,895 Democrat Donna L. Chessen 171,857 121,324 67th Assembly District: Republican Doris Allen, incumbent 85,232 127,358 Democrat Jonathan Woolf-Willis* -- -- 68th Assembly District: Republican Curt Pringle, incumbent 199,690 183,662 Democrat Irv Pickler 103,977 86,608 70th Assembly District: ** Republican Marilyn C. Brewer 463,879 396,106 Democrat Jim Toledano 56,027 6,464 71st Assembly District: Republican Mickey Conroy, incumbent 102,304 116,862 Democrat Jeanne Costales 12,087 8,957 72nd Assembly District: Republican Ross Johnson, incumbent 206,699 120,386 Democrat Allan L. Dollison 1,725 1,284

* Was not required to file report because he plans to spend less than $1,000.

** Note: There is no incumbent in the 70th Assembly district.

Source: Campaign finance reports

Researched by GEBE MARTINEZ / Los Angeles Times

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EEE-AYE-EEE-AYE-OH!: The “barnyard” edition of the campaign mailers for the fall season has hit mailboxes, and it’s a hoot. Democrat Donna L. Chessen, who is trying to unseat state Sen. Rob Hurtt (R-Garden Grove), sent out a mailer--filled with pictures of barnyard animals--that asserts Hurtt is too “chicken” to take a stand, “ducks” a lot of votes, “horses” around with politics. The mailer urges voters to send back a message: “bull.” Chessen has, it concludes, “Less bull. More brains.” But a Hurtt campaign spokesman cried foul, noting that Chessen claimed Hurtt had ducked some votes that were taken before he took office in March, 1993. “It’s a blatant lie, and I expect a full apology,” spokesman Doug Swardstrom said.

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It would’ve been easier to change jobs: When Lorraine Flores Williams signed up as a candidate for the Fullerton School District Board of Trustees, she was told by the county elections office that her job title--”drop-out prevention specialist”--could not be listed on the ballot.

“They gave me a list of titles to choose from, but none of them were what I do,” the candidate said. “I’m not a counselor, I’m not a truancy officer, but I had to choose the closest one. Why should they prevent you from calling yourself whatever you want? Why can’t I? That’s my point.”

Why? Because her real job title is four words long--one too many for the allotted space. She tried to fight the issue but lost and had to settle for “student truancy aide.”

UPCOMING EVENTS

Monday: Robert McFarlane, the former Reagan national security adviser, lectures at the Richard Nixon Library & Birthplace at 9:30 a.m. Tickets are $13.

Monday: The Orange County Chamber of Commerce and Industry hosts a candidates forum featuring Rep. Christopher Cox (R-Newport Beach) and his Democratic opponent, Gary Kingsbury, at 8 a.m. at the Irvine Marriott hotel, 18000 Von Karman Ave.

Tuesday: Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Huntington Beach) and his Democratic challenger, Brett Williamson, as well as 70th Assembly District candidates Republican Marilyn C. Brewer and Democrat Jim Toledano, will be featured at a candidates forum sponsored by the Orange County Chamber of Commerce and Industry at 8 a.m., at the Red Lion Hotel, 3050 Bristol St., Costa Mesa.

Wednesday: Former President George Bush attends a $1,000-per-couple fund-raiser for Rep. Robert K. Dornan (R-Garden Grove) at the Chanteclair Restaurant, 18912 MacArthur Blvd., Irvine.

Wednesday through Friday: UCI is sponsoring three sessions on Proposition 186, the health system measure on the Nov. 8 ballot. The first session will be Wednesday at 5 p.m. at the Bren Events Center. The Thursday and Friday discussions will be at noon at the UCI Medical Center, 2107 Library Complex. Information: (714) 725-2737.

Saturday: The California Republican League of Orange County hosts debates on Measure A, the proposal to develop a commercial airport at El Toro Marine Corps Air Station, and Proposition 187, the immigration initiative. The El Toro debate will be from 2:30 to 4 p.m., and the second debate will run from 4 to 5:30 p.m. The forums will be held at the Buena Park Holiday Inn, 7000 Beach Blvd. There is a $4 charge for each session.

Compiled by Times political writer Gebe Martinez, with contributions from staff writers Eric Bailey and Len Hall and correspondent Mimi Ko.