Ferguson Will Run for State Senate : Politics: Unflinchingly conservative assemblyman says he is uniquely qualified because he has never voted for a tax bill.

NEWPORT BEACH —  Assemblyman Gil Ferguson, an outspoken ex-Marine lieutenant colonel and former Irvine Co. executive, made it official Friday by formally announcing he would seek the state Senate seat soon to be vacated by Marian Bergeson (R-Newport Beach).

In a news conference at his office, Ferguson, also a Newport Beach Republican, said he is distinctly qualified to replace Bergeson in the 35th District, one of the wealthiest and most staunchly Republican districts in the country, because of his unflinchingly conservative voting record.

“The issue in this campaign will be the record,” said Ferguson, 71, a member of the state Assembly for 10 years. “The candidates on the Republican side will all be against taxes, against crime, against illegal aliens. But I’m the only one who has a record showing I have never voted for a tax bill.”

Bergeson will vacate her Senate seat in January to take over an Orange County supervisorial seat from Thomas F. Riley, who is retiring. A special election for her Senate position will be called after January.

Ferguson also took a shot at anyone who might move from another district to challenge him in what local politicos say will be a nasty and expensive battle. Ferguson is a 35-year resident of the district, which stretches from Seal Beach south to Laguna Beach along the coast and as far inland as parts of Buena Park and Tustin.

“It’s going to boil down to who knows this district, who lives here and who has worked among the people here,” Ferguson said. “I live here, not in Sacramento. I come home every weekend. . . . When people vote for me, they know who they are voting for.”

That message was apparently aimed directly at Assemblyman Ross Johnson (R-Fullerton), the former Assembly minority leader who most insiders believe will challenge Ferguson. Johnson has been criticized for living and bringing up his family in Sacramento and has been accused of keeping a residence in Fullerton only to qualify for election.

Johnson would also have to counter charges that he has accepted large sums of financial backing from oil company interests, a source of funds that could hurt him in this largely coastal district where many people are opposed to offshore oil drilling.

Johnson, who has already been raising money and shopping for a home in Newport Beach, did not return phone calls for comment. He is running for reelection in November.

Another expected challenger could be Assemblywoman Doris Allen (R-Cypress) whose 67th Assembly District is encompassed by Bergeson’s state Senate district. Allen, also in the midst of a reelection campaign, acknowledged Friday that she is seriously considering the challenge, but won’t decide until after November.

“Yes, I am considering it, but I’m not ready to announce at this point in time,” Allen said, adding that it would confuse the voters to enter another race now. “But if I did, I would be representing the people I represent currently, plus more.”

Allen took her own shot at Johnson, suggesting she doesn’t want an outsider moving in.

She said the candidate “should be someone from the district, whether it’s Gil or me or someone new from this district. I believe that makes more sense for our representative form of government.”

Ferguson’s critics say he long ago lost touch with his constituents, particularly women and minorities. But he counters by saying he has won every election he has entered by nearly 2-to-1 ratios.

“I don’t think I could be out of touch when I am consistently the highest vote-getter in the state . . . and my volunteers are 99% women,” he said.

Ferguson said it could easily take $600,000 to win this Senate seat, a powerful position with constituents who are major financial players in national Republican politics. With 230,000 registered Republicans in the district, a conservative Republican will be an overwhelming favorite.

A special election for Bergeson’s Senate seat will have to be called by the governor in January. The election would have to take place within 90 days thereafter.