SOUTH BAY ELECTION GUIDE : South Bay Races

U.S. CONGRESS

35th District

Area: Gardena, Hawthorne, Inglewood, South-Central Los Angeles

Registration: 80% D, 11% R

Democrat: Maxine Waters, incumbent

Republican: Nate Truman, graphics design firm owner

Background: Truman has canvassed the district, promoting his support of Proposition 187, which would deny services to illegal immigrants. But Waters is popular in the district, regardless of her opposition to the initiative.

36th District

Area: El Segundo, Hermosa Beach, Lomita, Manhattan Beach, Marina del Rey, Palos Verdes Peninsula, Redondo Beach, San Pedro, Torrance, Venice, Westchester

Registration: 43% D, 42% R

Democrat: Jane Harman, incumbent

Republican: Susan Brooks, Rancho Palos Verdes councilwoman

American Independent: Joseph G. (Joe) Fields, no occupation given

Libertarian: Jack Tyler, laser engineer

Background: Harman struggles in a district split almost evenly between the two major parties, but having the money to air ads on TV could give her an edge.

37th District

Area: Carson, Compton, Long Beach, Watts, Wilmington

Registration: 77% D, 13% R

Democrat: Walter R. Tucker III, incumbent

Libertarian: Guy Wilson, merchant seaman

Background: Tucker easily trounced a primary challenger, leaving him only with Wilson in the general election. He hit a snag--an indictment on extortion and tax evasion charges--but pundits still say he will get back in.

38th District

Area: Bellflower, Downey, Lakewood, Long Beach, Paramount, San Pedro

Registration: 52% D, 36% R

Democrat: Peter Mathews, college professor

Republican: Steve Horn, incumbent

Libertarian: Lester W. Mueller, project engineer

Peace and Freedom: Richard K. Green, project manager

Background: Mathews and Horn, also a college professor, duke it out. Incumbent Horn has a possible GOP tide and his adeptness at saving the C-17 cargo plane to help him.

STATE SENATE

28th District

Area: Carson, Compton, El Segundo, Hermosa Beach, Long Beach, Manhattan Beach, Marina del Rey, Redondo Beach, Torrance, Venice, Wilmington

Registration: 53% D, 33% R

Democrat: Ralph C. Dills, incumbent

Republican: David Barrett Cohen, attorney and educator

Libertarian: Neal Arvid Donner, private teacher

Peace and Freedom: Cindy V. Henderson, customer service representative

Background: Cohen badly needs a white knight rescue from state GOP leaders to match Dills in a final week mail blitz. Longtime incumbent Dills is far from a shoo-in, though. He’s still unknown to as many as three-fourths of the voters in the redrawn district.

STATE ASSEMBLY

51st District

Area: Hawthorne, Inglewood, South-Central Los Angeles

Registration: 72% D, 17% R

Democrat: Curtis Tucker Jr., incumbent

Republican: Adam Michelin, child-care executive

Background: Tucker should coast to victory, but he has still spent $134,000 to stop any Michelin movement.

52nd District

Area: Compton, Gardena, Lynwood, Watts

Registration: 80% D, 11% R

Democrat: Willard H. Murray Jr., incumbent

Republican: Richard A. Rorex, engineer

Background: Murray should coast to victory. Rorex dropped out of the race but his name remains on the ballot.

53rd District

Area: El Segundo, Hermosa Beach, Lomita, Manhattan Beach, Marina del Rey, Redondo Beach, Torrance, Venice, Westchester

Registration: 43% D, 41% R

Democrat: Debra Bowen, incumbent

Republican: Julian Sirull, insurance agent

Libertarian: William N. Gaillard, public works employee

Peace and Freedom: J. Kevin Bishop, cable installer

Background: Republicans, who ran a conservative in the moderate district in 1992, were bested by Bowen. Now they have a middle-of-the-roader in Sirull, but he’s a novice who badly needs money.

54th District

Area: Long Beach, Palos Verdes Peninsula, San Pedro, Signal Hill

Registration: 46% D, 41% R

Democrat: Betty Karnette, incumbent

Republican: Steven T. Kuykendall, Rancho Palos Verdes mayor

Libertarian: Alan J. Carlan, retired aerospace executive

Peace and Freedom: Patrick J. McCoy, public school teacher

Background: One of state Republicans’ best shots at taking a seat, given the voter registration and a strong challenger in Kuykendall. Karnette, who scored a surprise upset in 1992, once again is banking on door-to-door canvassing to carry her to victory.

55th District

Area: Carson, Compton, Long Beach, Wilmington

Registration: 69% D, 19% R

Democrat: Juanita M. McDonald, incumbent

Libertarian: Daniel O. Dalton, businessman

Background: The race will go to McDonald. A primary bid by former Assemblyman Richard Floyd never materialized, and Dalton has not invested more than $1,000 in the race.