The contest four years ago for the central coast state Senate seat was the costliest and most hard-fought in California history, but incumbent Bruce McPherson will face no seasoned opponent this time around.

Competing in the March 7 primary for a chance to challenge McPherson, R-Santa Cruz, for the 15th District seat in November are two Democrats making their first bids for state office.

McPherson, 56, a former assemblyman and newspaper editor, edged out former Coastal Commissioner and Democratic Assemblyman Rusty Areias for the open district seat in 1996. He is unopposed for his party's nomination.

Libertarian Gordon Sachtjen of Boulder Creek and Natural Law Party candidate David Rosenkranz of Monterey also are unopposed for the nominations of their parties, for which less than 1 percent of district voters are registered.

The 15th District includes portions of Monterey, Santa Clara, San Benito and Santa Cruz counties.

Competing for the Democratic nod are Kathrina M. Ognyanovich, 53, a software developer from Monterey, and Anselmo A. Chavez, 67, a substitute teacher from Salinas.

Ognyanovich, a trustee in the Monterey Peninsula Community College District, heads the local Democratic Central Committee. She has worked on the campaigns of Jerry Brown, Jesse Jackson, Areias, Rep. Sam Farr and Assemblyman Fred Keeley. She wants to reduce class size for all grades, raise teacher pay and expand health benefits.

Chavez, who moved to Salinas last summer, wants to overhaul Proposition 13. He would eliminate the 1978 tax-reform measure's benefits to businesses to free up funding for teacher salaries.

Chavez made an unsuccessful bid for a Milpitas City Council seat in 1990 and was trounced in a 1988 primary challenge against veteran Democratic Rep. Don Edwards.

Although Democrats enjoy a 49 percent to 30 percent edge over Republicans in voter registration, McPherson will be tough to topple. His moderate voting record and support for locally popular issues such as the environment and education have given him bipartisan appeal.

In the 1996 election, McPherson and Areias raised a record $4.1 million in their battle for the seat vacated by Watsonville Democrat Henry Mello, who was barred from re-election by term limits.