Hill Gives Backing to Horcher

State Sen. Frank Hill (R-Whittier), who said last week that he would not endorse anyone as his successor in the 52nd Assembly District, changed his mind this week and endorsed Diamond Bar Councilman Paul Horcher.

Hill said he endorsed Horcher because of Horcher’s support during his campaign for the state Senate earlier this year. Horcher was so critical of former Diamond Bar Councilman Gary Miller, who was running against Hill, that Horcher was removed by his council colleagues as mayor pro tem, next in line to become mayor. “I had a tough time saying no to Paul,” Hill said. “He stuck his neck out for me.

Horcher’s opponents quickly downplayed the endorsement’s significance.

“I don’t think it’s going to be a big deal in this campaign,” said Kenneth Manning, a Hacienda La Puente school board member who is one of eight Republicans in the primary. Wil Baca, a Hacienda Heights businessman and engineer, noted that Hill only last week had said he would not make an endorsement because there was no front-runner. Nothing has happened in the campaign to change that, Baca said, adding that the race is wide open.

Other Republicans in the race are Hacienda Heights Improvement Assn. board member Jim Baker, West Covina construction foreman Jack Dortignac, former Rep. Wayne Grisham of La Mirada, La Habra Heights attorney Paul Mautino and Hacienda Heights political aide Tony Russo.

Gary Neely, a Diamond Bar marketing consultant, is the only Democrat in the race.