Not Tried but True Words Added to Campaign Signs

By SHELBY GRAD

Oct. 31, 1992 12 AM PT

SPECIAL TO THE TIMES

CORONA DEL MAR — Call it the point where negative campaigning meets truth in advertising.

In the 70th Assembly District race, something new has been added to both candidates’ roadside campaign placards.

It all began a few days ago when someone attached the word “Democrat” in bold red letters to challenger Jim Toledano’s signs. Toledano supporters fought back Friday by placing stickers bearing the word “Incumbent” on about 200 of Republican Assemblyman Gil Ferguson’s signs.

Both additions are completely accurate.

Ferguson, who was first elected to the Assembly in 1984, insisted that his supporters had nothing to do with altering Toledano’s signs. But he admitted he was glad someone did.

Toledano “hasn’t told anyone he’s a Democrat. In all his mailings, he’s . . . avoided it. If I were a Democrat in this district, I’d avoid it, too,” Ferguson said. “I’m sure the people who (altered the signs) had the best interests of the electorate at heart. But I didn’t do it.”

From Toledano’s perspective, the added party references will only help his campaign.

“I think it’s great. I’m not trying to conceal what party I’m with,” he said. “Gil Ferguson still thinks the Republicans of this district will vote for anything as long as it is labeled Republican.”

Toledano supporters said that in fashioning a response, they simply chose a fact about Ferguson not made clear on the Republican’s placards.

But Ferguson doesn’t see it quite that way.

“Everyone knows that I am an assemblyman,” he said. “I’ve never tried to hide it. I’m proud of it.”

The district, considered the second most Republican in the Assembly, covers Newport Beach and Irvine.