Harper wins 74th Assembly seat, defeating Curry

Huntington Beach Mayor Matthew Harper scored an easy win Tuesday over Newport Beach Councilman Keith Curry in the race for the 74th Assembly District seat.

“To have this kind of a win, and like-minded people winning across the country and legislative races across the state, it was such a joyous evening,” Harper said Wednesday. “I’m looking forward to representing Huntington Beach, the coastal cities and the neighboring cities.”

Harper took 59% of the vote and will replace Assemblyman Allan Mansoor (R-Costa Mesa), who ran unsuccessfully for the Orange County Board of Supervisors.

Curry said his defeat could be attributed to “the combination of the unpopularity of Measure Y in Newport Beach and the attack on the city’s record by the challengers.”

Measure Y, which was defeated by Newport voters Tuesday, would have allowed more development in the city’s main business district and limited it along the more residential coast.

“The voters have spoken,” added Curry, who has two years remaining on his council seat.

The 74th District includes all or parts of Newport Beach, Huntington Beach, Costa Mesa, Irvine, Laguna Beach and Laguna Woods.

Harper said that when he begins his work in Sacramento on Dec. 1, he will fight a California Department of Transportation proposal to put toll lanes on the 405 Freeway in Orange County.

Curry and Harper, both Republicans, took jabs at each other during the campaign. Harper emphasized his opponent’s vote to increase dock fees in Newport Beach, which opponents label a “dock tax.”

Harper also criticized Curry’s vote to consider banning beach fire rings in Newport, which was the catalyst for a heated statewide debate on whether the South Coast Air Quality Management District should have the power to prohibit wood-burning firepits in its jurisdiction.

Curry accused Harper of listing bogus endorsements on his campaign website.