32nd State Senate District

Voters in the 32nd District will pick a replacement Tuesday for Ed Royce, who was elected to Congress in November. In this special election, voters may vote for any candidate, regardless of party affiliation. If no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote, a runoff election will be held in April.

REPUBLICAN

Rob Hurtt

Age: 48

Residence: Garden Grove

Occupation: Manufacturing firm owner

Background: Runs Container Supply Co. in Garden Grove. Helped found Capitol Resources Institute, conservative lobbying group in Sacramento, and Capitol Commonwealth, which bankrolled conservative candidates in 1992 election. First run for office. Moved from home in Orange to run.

DEMOCRATS

Rick Foster

Age: 29

Residence: Anaheim

Occupation: Real estate agent

Background: Family in Orange County for 100 years. Worked in Connecticut Legislature while attending college. Helped Democratic state Sen. Cecil N. Green’s campaign in 1986. Worked in Green’s Lakewood office and on campaign of former Rep. Jerry Patterson, a Santa Ana Democrat. Has never run for office.

Ken Leblanc

Age: 36

Residence: Garden Grove

Occupation: Business owner

Background: Defeated by Assemblywoman Doris Allen (R-Cypress) in November. Moved from home in Huntington Beach to run for state Senate. Former resident of New York, moved west six years ago. Member of environmental group Amigos de Bolsa Chica and St. Bonaventure Church.

Wayman Nelson

Age: 57

Residence: Garden Grove

Occupation: Health and auto insurance consultant

Background: Former Marine. Church and professional organist. Senior Olympics gold medalist in 5,000- and 1,500-meter race walks. Member of Good Samaritan Seventh-day Adventist Church. Has seven children, six grandchildren. First run for office.

Linda Kay Rigney

Age: 49

Residence: Garden Grove

Occupation: Educational assistant

Background: Defeated by Assemblyman Curt Pringle (R-Garden Grove) in November. A member of state Democratic Central Committee and longtime participant in numerous campaigns. Former president of union chapter for Garden Grove schools.

LIBERTARIAN

Richard Newhouse

Age: 46

Residence: Garden Grove

Occupation: College geography instructor

Background: On county Libertarian Central Committee since 1988. Ran for Congress against Rep. Robert K. Dornan (R--Garden Grove) last year and emerged with 9% of vote, most of any third-party candidate in Orange County. Navy veteran. Practiced law for 12 years in Florida.

PEACE AND FREEDOM

David Porter

Age: 39

Residence: Anaheim

Occupation: Musicologist

Background: Composer, recording engineer. Works as music programmer for radio station KPFK. Listed in several Who’s Who editions of American composers. Edited a recently released compact disc featuring classical composer Charles Ives. First run for office.

Source: Los Angeles Times reports