Old Foe of Horcher Seeks Funds for New Challenger

Still Sore--Kenneth R. Manning, who lost to Assemblyman Paul V. Horcher (R-Diamond Bar) by 72 votes in the 1990 Republican primary, cannot run against him this year, but he is nonetheless trying to rally his friends--and their money--to work for Horcher’s defeat.

Manning, a member of the Hacienda La Puente school board, lives in Hacienda Heights, which was taken out of the Assembly district by reapportionment. But still steaming from his treatment by Horcher two years ago, Manning has sent a letter to his 1990 supporters asking them to back Diamond Bar Councilwoman Phyllis Papen against Horcher this year.

The mailing, paid for by Papen’s campaign, accuses Horcher of sleazy campaign tactics in 1990 and says that he has become a “stooge” for trial lawyers by accepting $105,000 in contributions from them and their political allies.

Money from trial lawyers has helped Horcher build a commanding lead in campaign funds. As of the last campaign reporting period in mid-March, Horcher had more than $100,000 available for his primary campaign, while Papen had raised less than $5,000.

Manning’s letter, which went to a couple of hundred contributors to his 1990 campaign, is aimed at helping her catch up.

Petitions for Perot--A rally to build support in the Pomona Valley for the presidential candidacy of billionaire businessman H. Ross Perot will be held at 7:30 p.m. Monday at the Twin Oaks Mobile Home Park clubhouse, 3800 Bradford St., La Verne.

Galen Russell, Pomona Valley coordinator of a petition campaign to put Perot on the state ballot as an independent candidate, said the rally is open to supporters in Claremont, Diamond Bar, La Verne, Pomona, San Dimas and Walnut.

Russell said those attending may park on Bradford, which runs along the western entrance to the mobile home park north of Foothill Boulevard, or Williams Avenue on the east side of the park.

Forums--Democratic candidates in the new 49th Assembly District will speak at a forum from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at Monterey Park City Hall. The event is sponsored by the Alhambra and Monterey Park Democratic clubs. . . . The Mark Twain Democratic Club will sponsor a forum for Democratic candidates in three congressional districts at 7:30 p.m. Friday in the clubhouse at Parnell Park, at Lambert Road and Scott Avenue in Whittier. The candidates are Kevin Dockery, Tommy Randle and Albert Wachtel in the 28th District; Rep. Esteban Torres (D-La Puente), who is seeking reelection in the 34th District, and Molly McClanahan and Garry Hamud, who are running in the new 39th District. Representatives of U.S. Senate candidates also will speak.