Hart May Reveal Plan to Run for Ferguson’s Seat

Newport Beach Mayor Pro Tem Evelyn R. Hart, setting the stage for a June 7 primary battle within Orange County’s Republican Party, is expected to announce today that she will challenge Assemblyman Gil Ferguson (R-Newport Beach) to represent the 70th Assembly District.

Hart is scheduled to speak before the Newport Harbor Chamber of Commerce breakfast meeting at Le Meridien Hotel. Although she would not confirm that she intends to run, she said she will “have some fairly strong things to say” about Ferguson at the meeting.

“There probably are a lot of reasons not to go, but maybe far more reasons to go,” Hart said of the Assembly race.

Hart, 57, a member of the Newport Beach City Council for 10 years, has made it known that she is unhappy with Ferguson’s representation of the district on such issues as transportation and tort reform.