Being Known Is Key to This Assembly Seat

In the 60th Assembly District race, the three Republican candidates, including the wife of the area’s current representative, are scrambling for name recognition in a suburban swath encompassing parts of Los Angeles, Orange and San Bernardino counties.

With the Republican candidates running similar campaigns, voters during the March 2 primary may base their decision on territory rather than ideology, according to Allan Hoffenblum, a Republican political analyst.

“My gut feeling is that [the winner] will come down to who meets the most people,” said Hoffenblum, publisher of the California Target Book, a nonpartisan elections guide. “I don’t think there’s a clear front-runner.... It’s more up to the candidate.”

Gayle Pacheco, whose husband, Assemblyman Robert Pacheco (R-Walnut), represents the district but cannot seek re-election because of term limits, may draw voters who like her husband.

Bill MacAloney, the only Orange County resident, may reap votes from his home county.

Candidate Bob Huff said his work as a commodities wholesaler has made him known in the tri-county area.

Patrick John Martinez is the lone Democratic candidate running in the solidly Republican area, which includes the eastern Los Angeles County communities of La Mirada, La Habra Heights, Diamond Bar, Walnut and parts of Whittier, San Dimas and unincorporated Rowland Heights.

The district also includes Chino Hills in San Bernardino County and, in Orange County, Villa Park and portions of Anaheim, La Habra, Orange and Yorba Linda.

The three Republican candidates have campaigned against new taxes and the state’s workers compensation system, citing it as a major factor in driving companies out of California.

Gayle Pacheco said her professional experiences make her the most qualified candidate. As owner of Western Hardware Co., a Covina manufacturer and distributor of automotive and industrial hardware, Pacheco travels throughout the tri-county district.

In 1999, Pacheco, 50, began a four-year term on the Board of Trustees at Mt. San Antonio Community College, a 55,000-student campus where she helped oversee an annual budget of $102 million.

Between Jan. 1 and 17, Pacheco received $8,942.30, spent $21,297.58 and ended with $207,917.10 in cash, according to the California Secretary of State’s website.

Pacheco is endorsed by the California Women’s Leadership Assn., Los Angeles County Professional Police Officers Assn., Crime Victims United of California, as well as dozens of other elected officials and community leaders.

Dozens of Orange County elected and business leaders have endorsed MacAloney, a Villa Park resident and council member and owner of Jax Markets, a grocery chain with stores in Orange, Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties.

“I’ve been involved in all counties,” said MacAloney, who has received support from people and groups outside of Orange County, such as the California Professional Firefighters, Los Angeles County Professional Firefighters and the California Independent Grocers and Convenience Stores Assn.

The overriding frustration that people in the 60th District have, MacAloney said, is with wasteful spending. MacAloney said he would push for audits to examine the funding and purpose of various state programs.

MacAloney, 68, grew up an orphan and runaway. He said because of his background, and his concern for the state’s decaying educational systems, he will donate his approximately $99,000 annual Assembly salary to a foundation he will start for the district’s youth.

During the first half of January, MacAloney received $7,987 in contributions, spent $47,632.54 and ended with $188,089.28 in cash, according to the state website.

As owner of the Ray S. French Co., a commodities wholesaler in Diamond Bar, Huff, 50, said he is familiar with the three counties in the 60th District. “I’ve found that the issues don’t stop at a boundary line,” he said. “The No. 1 issue facing California voters is the fact that their legislators can’t get spending under control.”

Elected three times to the Diamond Bar City Council, Huff said his experience balancing his city’s budget would help him in Sacramento.

For the first 17 days of January, according to the California Secretary of State’s website, Huff received $27,883 in contributions, spent $24,518.02 and ended with $144,649.63 in cash.

Huff has received endorsements from the California Republican Assembly, the cities of Diamond Bar, Chino Hills, Walnut, Yorba Linda and Industry, in addition to other community groups and leaders.

Democratic Candidate Martinez, a University of La Verne student, could not be reached for an interview.

Position statements indicate that Martinez wants to reform the state budget process, increase voter participation, support incentives for small businesses and improving public education.