Race for Orange County Assembly seat turns ugly
The Associated Press reports that talk of scandal is nothing new in California's 72nd Assembly District, where the last legislator -- a married father of two -- resigned after being caught on videotape bragging about kinky romps with lobbyists.
But the accusations of sexual impropriety and ethical failings making headlines this month in the Orange County district aren't about former GOP Assemblyman Mike Duvall, who stepped down in disgrace in September.
They're being traded by two Republicans trying to replace him in Tuesday's primary election.
County Supervisor Chris Norby's campaign calls Linda Ackerman, a member of the Republican National Committee, a habitual liar and handmaiden of special interests.
Ackerman's ads remind voters that a civil jury found Norby had sexually harassed a county employee, but mostly skirt the fact that the conclusion was reversed on appeal. She accuses Norby of having a "history of inappropriate behavior."
Norby and Ackerman are the leading candidates among five people seeking the open seat in the safely Republican district that is home to Disney land and includes the cities of
Fullerton, Anaheim, Placentia, Orange, Brea, Yorba Linda and La Habra.
Light turnout is projected.
A candidate needs to clear 50 percent of the vote to win outright. Otherwise, the top vote-getter from each party will face off in a runoff Jan. 12, with Republicans the overwhelming favorite then, given the party's 10-point registration edge in the district over Democrats.
With three candidates dividing the GOP vote, including Republican Richard Faher, it's unlikely any will surpass 50 percent. Democrat John MacMurray and Green Party candidate Jane Rands also are in the race. Ackerman and Norby, each with deep ties to the county, have far outdistanced the other candidates in fundraising, using the money to finance sharp-edged mailings. With few differences between them on policy, the contest has come down to attacks on ethics and personality.
The race's harsh tone can be attributed, at least partly, to bad blood. Ackerman's husband, Dick Ackerman, is a former Republican leader in the state Senate whose ties to Norby have been strained for years.
Ackerman adviser Matt Rexroad defended the attacks on Norby, saying he displayed "a pattern of bad behavior" in public office. Norby's ads depict him as the victim of a smear campaign and ask, "Why does Linda Ackerman lie?"
It's gotten so bad, a local ethics commission has been weighing in.
"Internal fights can take on a highly personal edge, especially when the ideological differences between the candidates aren't very great," said John Pitney, a political scientist at Claremont McKenna College.
"Civil wars are always the nastiest."
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