San Gabriel Valley : Wide Field of Candidates to Compete in March Elections

The field is set for the March elections in the San Gabriel Valley, with three councilmen seeking to become judges, a herd of competitors running for a vacant congressional seat and a state Senate seat, and a Republican primary challenge to Pasadena Assemblyman Bill Hoge.

Among the seven candidates running for the seat on West Covina’s Citrus Municipal Court bench being vacated by Judge Michael Rutberg are Azusa Mayor Stephen Alexander and Covina Councilman Thomas Falls.

Rutberg’s decision last week not to seek reelection extended the deadline for candidates to Wednesday, allowing the two elected officials and four other attorneys to enter the race at the last minute against prosecutor Larry Larson of Walnut. Falls and Larson are both Los Angeles County deputy district attorneys in Pomona.

Meanwhile, in the west San Gabriel Valley, the retirement of veteran U.S. Rep. Carlos J. Moorhead (R-Glendale) has attracted three Democrats to enter the primary for the 27th District: former Screen Actors Guild President Barry Gordon, Pasadena systems analyst Daniel Hurst and businessman Doug Kahn of Altadena, who lost the last two races to Moorhead. In the Republican primary, Glendale Assemblyman James Rogan faces Joe Paul of Pasadena.

Republicans seeking the 21st District state Senate seat being vacated by Newton Russell (R-Glendale) are Assemblywoman Paula Boland of Granada Hills, Glendale school board member Sharon Beauchamp, Pasadena businessman Bob Oltman and former Pasadena school board member Wilbert Smith. Glendale Prosecutor Adam Schiff is the lone Democrat running for the seat.

In the Republican primary race for the 44th District Assembly seat, Hoge faces James Edwards, a La Canada Flintridge councilman, and Fred Soldwedel, a Pasadena attorney. The top finisher will go up against former Pasadena City College President Jack Scott, a Democrat, in November.