‘Hit’ Mailers Blamed in Election Standoff : Assembly: Forced into runoff, Margett cites campaign attacks, crowded field of GOP opponents for his failure to win majority vote in bid for 59th District seat.

They came at Arcadia Councilman Bob Margett fast and furious in the days before Tuesday’s special election to fill the Assembly’s 59th District seat, which opened up in the political maneuvering that allowed Assembly Speaker Willie Brown (D-San Francisco) to retain his leadership post.

Runner-up Ginny Joyce, a Duarte councilwoman, slammed her fellow Republican for voting in 1978 to increase Arcadia’s utility tax.

Republican Gary L. Woods, a member of the Citrus Community College Governing Board, accused Margett of lying about his educational background. In his campaign literature, he also noted that Margett pleaded “no contest” in the 1970s to a vandalism charge for destroying a campaign sign of a rival council candidate.

Given that final flurry of negative mailers and a crowded field of nine Republicans, Margett said he wasn’t surprised he didn’t receive the majority vote needed to win the seat outright. Margett will face Brent A. Decker, the lone Democrat in Tuesday’s election, in a June 6 runoff.

“We tried hard, but we just couldn’t do it,” Margett said. “You can’t have the hit pieces that went out and not have it affect the campaign.”

Margett has stated that he attended UC Berkeley. But the councilman said he never said he graduated. Margett said this week he left after one year at UC Berkeley when his wife, Beverly, became pregnant, and he never returned to earn a degree.

Margett defended his vote for a 2% increase in the city’s utility tax as a prudent action because less than a month before voters approved Proposition 13, which reduced tax revenues for cities.

As for destroying the campaign sign, Margett apologized shortly after his plea, calling the act “unwise” and “impetuous.”

Margett appeared to cross his biggest hurdle Tuesday when he received 32% of the vote to beat Joyce, who finished with 24%. He is expected to cruise to victory in the conservative district against Decker, who received 18% of the votes cast Tuesday.

The 59th District has a voter registration that is 47.8% Republican and 39.6% Democrat, which does not bode well for Decker. The district includes all or parts of Arcadia, Claremont, Covina, Duarte, Glendora, La Verne, Monrovia, Pomona and San Dimas.

Nevertheless, Margett said he is not taking Decker for granted.

“We’re going to load up our muskets and be ready for him,” Margett said.

Decker said he hopes to upset Margett by attracting the votes of moderate Republicans.

“Bob Margett has courted the archconservative vote, and I don’t think that constitutes the majority in this district,” said Decker, who has never held public office.

Decker’s opinion is debatable. The archconservative Richard L. Mountjoy, now a state senator, was first elected to represent the Assembly district in 1978 and held the seat until earlier this year.

Endorsed by Mountjoy, Margett has pledged to continue the legacy of the longtime tax fighter.

Margett said he opposes affirmative action and supports full implementation of Proposition 187, which seeks to cut most public services to illegal immigrants. Many of Proposition 187’s provisions are being challenged in court.

Decker opposes Prop. 187 and supports affirmative action. He calls for “responsible” economic growth that balances the need for jobs with protecting the environment and public health.

The special election was called after Mountjoy was ousted from his Assembly seat during the recent leadership battle between Brown and Republican Leader Jim Brulte.