Horcher ‘Resignation’ Turns Out to Be a Hoax : Politics: Fraudulent fax reflects turmoil over controversial assemblyman, who is the target of a recall effort.

The press release arrived by fax late Wednesday night: Maverick Assemblyman Paul V. Horcher (I-Diamond Bar), the target of a bitter recall election this Tuesday, was throwing in the towel. But as it turned out, the assemblyman was as surprised as anyone by the news.

“It’s a fraud,” said Horcher, whose defection from Republican ranks late last year blocked a GOP takeover of the Assembly. “Probably wishful thinking on the part of our opponents.”

For their part, leaders of the move to recall Horcher denied sending the press release, which followed a fax cover page that made it appear that the information came from Horcher’s campaign consultant.

“There’s a zillion people who could have been screwing around” and sent the fax to several media outlets, including The Times, said Jim Camp, who is directing the recall campaign.

Regardless of the culprit, the hoax is a clear sign of the passion surrounding the recall effort in the 60th Assembly District, which encompasses much of the eastern San Gabriel Valley.

Political pundits say Horcher is fighting an uphill battle to keep his seat in a district that has traditionally voted solidly Republican (Horcher himself has won three two-year terms as the GOP candidate).

Horcher made state legislative history--and became the Republicans’ Public Enemy No. 1--in December when he renounced his affiliation with the GOP, declared himself an independent and gave Democratic Speaker Willie Brown the one-vote edge he needed to keep his leadership post. Assembly Republicans were poised to seize leadership of the lower house for the first time in more than two decades.

Recall proceedings were launched immediately against Horcher. State Republican and Democratic officials, including Brown and Republican Assembly Leader Jim Brulte (R-Rancho Cucamonga), who would have been Speaker had Horcher remained loyal, have taken the contest to heart. Both sides have sent hundreds of campaign workers into the district in recent weeks to win over voters. They also have used extensive phone banking, numerous mailers and hundreds of lawn signs to saturate the area with their messages.