The Politicking for Assembly Speaker

What nonsense to presume that a man of Gil Ferguson’s integrity would be plotting with California traitors Paul Horcher and Willie Brown to defeat the Republican leadership in the Assembly.

It is much more conceivable that these are rumors being generated by Assemblyman Ross Johnson (R-Placentia), good friend of former Assemblyman Pat Nolan and state Sen. Frank Hill who are both behind bars for their own political chicanery. And it’s known by many that Ross has fantasies of beating Ferguson in the next race for Marian Bergeson’s Senate seat--a good motive to start slinging mud at Ferguson.

Well, dream on, Mr. Johnson. We don’t need a long-distance senator representing our community. So, just leave your carpetbags unpacked up there in Sacramento.

DOROTHY HUGHES

Laguna Hills

* I am truly appalled at the press for printing allegations that in some way former Assemblyman Gil Ferguson influenced Assemblyman Paul Horcher’s decision to vote for Willie Brown as Speaker.

Lest we forget the previous relationship between Brown and Horcher before his traitorous act: Horcher was the swing vote to pass the largest tax increase in the state; Horcher defied fellow Republicans and accepted Brown’s appointment as vice chair of the Assembly Ways and Means Committee; Horcher received more than $100,000 from Brown during his unsuccessful Senate race against (Richard) Mountjoy; and furthermore, Brown advised Horcher to remain a Republican long enough to get reelected, and then defect parties and vote for Brown.

I think it’s pretty clear that Paul Horcher did not need the advice of anyone to vote for Willie Brown, let alone someone who is no longer in the Assembly.

STEVEN N. BRODY

Los Alamitos