Primaries Affected by Term Limits

The approval of term limits by voters in 1990 is having its first major impact this year. One result is more than the usual number of intraparty battles in the March 26 primary election. Here is a look at some them in Southern California. The list does not include general election opponents.

STATE SENATE

* 17th District: Republican Don Rogers is leaving because of term limits. Those seeking the GOP nomination in this strongly Republican district in the High Desert areas of Los Angeles, Kern, Inyo and San Bernardino counties are Assemblyman Pete Knight of Palmdale; Phil Wyman, a former assemblyman and senator, and Victorville City Manager James L. Cox.

* 21st District: Sen. Newton R. Russell (R-Glendale)is a victim of term limits. Assemblywoman Paula L. Boland (R-Granada Hills) faces strong intraparty opposition from Wilbert Smith, who ran for state superintendent of public instruction in 1994, Sharon R. Beauchamp and Robert Oltman.

* 25th District: Sen. Teresa P. Hughes (D-Inglewood) is seeking a second term in this strongly Democratic district ranging from Inglewood to Watts. She is being challenged in the Democratic primary by Assemblyman Curtis Tucker, also of Inglewood.

* 27th District: Sen. Robert G. Beverly (R-Long Beach) is leaving because of term limits after a 30-year legislative career representing the area from the Palos Verdes Peninsula through Long Beach to Bellflower and Downey. A bitter fight to succeed him matches Long Beach businessman Frank Colonna and Assemblyman Phil Hawkins of Bellflower. On the Democratic side, former Assemblywoman Betty Karnette of Long Beach is seeking a comeback. Democrat Brian Finander is also a candidate.

* 35th District: After winning this coastal Orange County seat in a special election, Republican Ross Johnson of Irvine faces a challenge for the Republican nomination by former Assemblyman Gil Ferguson. Their political feud involves deposed Assembly Speaker Doris Allen. Ferguson was a staunch Allen backer and Johnson was an opponent.

STATE ASSEMBLY

* 38th District: Former Assemblyman Tom McClintock of Simi Valley is seeking the Republican nomination in this district, which is considered a safe GOP seat. Other Republicans seeking the nomination are Stephen R. Frank, Bob Larkin, Peggy Freeman, Robert C. Hamlin and Ross Hopkins.

* 43rd District: Assemblyman James E. Rogan of Glendale is leaving after one term to run for Congress. Eight Republicans are running to succeed Rogan, including Peter Musurlian, who ran the district office of retiring Rep. Carlos J. Moorhead (R-Glendale), whose seat Rogan is seeking. Others are Sheldon S. Baker, John Geranios, Elliott Graham, Craig H. Missakian, James C. Regan, Peter R. Repovich and David E. Wallis.

* 48th District: Assemblywoman Marguerite Archie-Hudson is being ousted by term limits after a six-year tenure, paving the way for a crowded Democratic primary. Victory in the primary is tantamount to victory in November, so high is the proportion of Democrats in the district. The highest-profile combatants may be Rod Wright, longtime activist and aide to the previous Assembly member--Maxine Waters--and former Los Angeles City Councilman Robert Farrell. Others are administrative legal assistant Bobbie Jean Anderson, science educator Bob Campbell, businesswoman Ocie P. Hinkle, political consultant Robert Bridges and businesswoman Addie Miller.

* 51st District: Assemblyman Curtis Tucker is a victim of term limits and is running for the 25th Senate District seat. The scramble among Democrats to succeed him in this safe district (72% of the voter registration is Democratic) includes Inglewood Mayor Edward Vincent and Mark Dymally, son of Mervin M. Dymally, the former lieutenant governor, and Thomasina Reed.

* 55th District: Then-Assemblymen Dick Floyd and Dave Elder battled for this seat in 1994, but Carson City Councilwoman Juanita McDonald slipped by them to win the primary and the district that encompasses portions of Long Beach, Carson and Compton. But this year, McDonald has decided to run for Congress. Running for the Democratic nomination are former Assemblyman Floyd and three others: R. Keith McDonald, Joseph Mendez Jr. and Carl E. Robinson Sr.

* 71st District: Mickey Conroy of Orange, one of the Legislature’s more flamboyant and outspoken conservatives in one of the Assembly’s most conservative districts, is leaving because of term limits. Five GOP candidates are seeking to succeed him: businessman Bill Campbell, former Orange Mayor Jim Beam, businessman Steve Cardona, Lake Forest Mayor Richard Dixon and accountant Larry F. Sternberg.

--Times researchers Nona Yates and Tracy Thomas