Three Republicans, Orange County Supervisor Chris Norby, Linda Ackerman and Richard Faher, and Democrat John MacMurray and Jane Rands of the Green Party are seeking 72nd Assembly District seat.
If no candidate receives a majority Tuesday, the top finisher in each party will face each other again in a runoff election on Jan. 12.
In a campaign dominated by character issues, Ackerman and Norby, the better-financed candidates, sent mailers attacking each other's character.
Norby called Ackerman a liar. Ackerman, California's Republican National Committeewoman and wife of former 72nd District Assemblyman Dick Ackerman, hammered Norby on a sexual harassment lawsuit that was overturned by an appellate court in 2007.
While the justices did not think Norby's actions created an abusive working environment, they did take note of ``improper behavior.''
Norby has denied sexually harassing Pam Mokler, the former head of the county's Office on Aging, who sued the county in 2003 after she was fired.
"This one's been unusually nasty but it is what it is," Ackerman said. "Still, nobody wants to have a race like that."
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Faher said he got into the race after he saw Norby was running. ``We've already had (former disgraced Sheriff Mike Carona) and then Mike Duvall and then who follows but Chris Norby,'' Faher said.
Norby and Ackerman hold many similar political views so the race became personal, both acknowledged. Ackerman said it's likely the two would vote similarly in Sacramento but Norby is more of a libertarian.
Ackerman cited education and water as other top issues in the race. Norby also cited public education, saying more money must be directed to classroom expenses.
All three Republicans in the heavily Republican district favor giving local educators more control over state funding. MacMurray, a junior high school teacher, called the issue a political ``landmine'' but said the state's financing of schools must be reconsidered.
MacMurray ran unsuccessfully against Duvall in 2006 and 2008 and was ready to run again in 2010 when he learned of Duvall's resignation September 9. MacMurray received 37.6 percent of the vote in 2006 and 45.2 percent in 2008.
Faher said he had to persuade his wife before he could file to run. The former software consultant said he had essentially retired and was content to be a stay-at-home father while his wife went to medical school, but he got the itch because he's a news junkie.
Duvall, who is married and has two children, resigned a day after his conversation with a colleague in which he claimed to having sex with two lobbyists was picked up by an open microphone during a lull in a committee hearing.
The predominately Republican district consists of Brea, Fullerton and Placentia and portions of Anaheim, Yorba Linda, Orange and La Habra. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
