Candidate Drops Out Due to Back Injury

Hit by a painful back injury, Republican Assembly candidate Sanford L. Winger of Northridge on Monday dropped out of the race for the seat now held by Assemblywoman Paula L. Boland (R-Granada Hills).

Winger, a real estate appraiser, said he landed in the hospital with a herniated disk after picking up a computer printer in September.

“I did not want to pull out, but my recovery has been absolutely terrible,” Winger said. He said the pain would prevent him from mounting a campaign needed to win.

Winger said he has thrown his support behind fellow Republican Ross Hopkins of Canoga Park after reviewing the credentials of other Republicans who have announced their candidacies.

Winger said he was impressed by Hopkins’ business background. Both Winger and Hopkins spent years in the aerospace industry before moving into other occupations.

With Winger’s departure, six Republicans and three Democrats are competing to replace Boland, who is forced to retire from the Assembly because of voter-approved term limits.

Boland’s 38th District straddles the Ventura-Los Angeles County line and encompasses the cities of Simi Valley, Fillmore and a portion of the Conejo Valley.