Competing for the Capitol

Two State Senate and four Assembly races have drawn 16 candidates. A brief look at each:

33RD STATE SENATE

David Robert Heywood

Party: Democrat

Occupation: Student, cellular customer representative

Age: 26

Background: Orange County native; active in Democratic clubs; has never run for office

Major Issues: Improve education; longer sentences for criminals; boost business climate without hurting environment

*

John R. Lewis

Party: Republican

Occupation: State senator

Age: 41

Background: Sixteen years in Legislature

Major issues: Improving California’s economy; slicing taxes

*

35TH STATE SENATE

Nat Adam

Party: Natural Law

Occupation: Civil engineer

Age: 49

Background: Been in business 20 years

Major issues: Wants to push for conflict-free, nonpartisan political process, more multicultural education; opposes commercial airport at El Toro Marine Air Station

*

Madelene Arakelian

Party: Democrat

Occupation: Businesswoman

Age: 62

Background: Has run for county supervisor, state Senate and Congress; owns Irvine waste hauling firm

Major issues: Improving education; helping strip restrictions on business

*

Ross Johnson

Party: Republican

Occupation: State senator

Age: 57

Background: Eighteen years in Legislature

Major issues: Cutting taxes, business regulations and proliferation of lawsuits

*

68TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT

Audrey L. Gibson

Party: Democrat

Occupation: Congressional district administrator

Age: 40

Background: Compton city attorney paralegal; political activist; worked on numerous campaigns; first run for office

Major Issues: Educating state’s 20th century work force; improving small-business climate

*

Curt Pringle

Party: Republican

Occupation: Assembly speaker

Age: 37

Background: Highest-ranking Assembly Republican; six years in Legislature; small-businessman

Major issues: Slice taxes; cut regulations hindering business; reform welfare.

*

70TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT

Gene Beed

Party: Libertarian

Occupation: Pediatrician

Age: 40

Background: Board of directors of Irvine Child Development Center; director, Acacia Adult Day Care Center; former director, Discovery Science Center

Major issues: Reducing taxes; reduce size, cost and reach of government

*

Paul R. Fisher

Party: Natural Law

Occupation: Regional sales manager

Age: 40

Background: Small-business owner; former U.S. Air Force captain

Major issues: Prevention-oriented health care; curbing teenage drug use; school vouchers; school uniforms; smaller class sizes

*

Marilyn C. Brewer

Party: Republican

Occupation: Assemblywoman and businesswoman

Age: 57

Background: Owns plastic-molding firm; eight years as executive assistant to county supervisor; two years in Legislature

Major issues: Cutting taxes; easing regulations on business; workers’ compensation reform

*

Shirley W. Palley

Party: Democrat

Occupation: Retired teacher

Age: 67

Background: Trained economist; member, state and county central committee; chaired committee that built Irvine Barclay Theater

Major issues: Fix education infrastructure; start programs to increase early childhood education; opposed to anti-affirmative action Prop. 209; support increased minimum wage; favors absolute gun control

*

71ST ASSEMBLY DISTRICT

Bill Campbell

Party: Republican

Occupation: Owns Taco Bell franchise

Age: 64

Background: First run for office; active in many community activities

Major Issues: Make state business-friendly to keep good paying jobs; improve K-12 education

*

Jack Roberts

Party: Democrat

Occupation: Labor organization official

Age: 57

Background: Represented people from shop floor to Sacramento for Service Employees International Union’s Los Angeles branch; has never run for public office

Major Issues: Fend off Republican assault on prevailing wage and overtime; enhance programs for elderly; improve education by borrowing ideas from high-achieving states

*

73RD ASSEMBLY DISTRICT

Catherine Carter

Party: Natural Law

Occupation: Southern California chair for Natural Law party

Age: 42

Background: Corporate stress reduction educator, 15 years as special event business owner; volunteer for Angel Flight flying medical service

Major Issues: Better teacher pay and training; develop model schools as test ground; curb use of herbicides and pesticides; require labeling of genetically engineered food

*

Bill Morrow

Party: Republican

Occupation: Assemblyman

Age: 42

Background: Four years as assemblyman; former legislative staffer; former Marine Corps attorney; currently a private attorney

Major Issues: Frivolous lawsuit reform; speeding death-penalty cases; cutting taxes; striping regulations on business

*

Robert D. Wilberg

Party: Democrat

Occupation: County parks technician

Age: 55

Background: Lifetime blue-collar worker; elected Capistrano Bay Park and Recreation board member, 1990; secretary-treasurer of county’s blue-collar workers union

Major Issues: Returning to counties and local districts property taxes shifted to state in 1993-94; campaign finance reform; fight privatization of public services

*

Source: Individual candidates