Solis, Kuehl have fundraising lead in L.A. County supervisors’ race

Former U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis and former state Sen. Sheila Kuehl have a considerable fundraising jump over their rivals for two open seats on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, new campaign reports show.

Solis raised $518,000 and reported $433,000 cash on hand at the end of December in a filing covering the second half of 2013. She announced last year that she was running to replace outgoing Supervisor Gloria Molina in the 1st District, which covers downtown, East Los Angeles and portions of eastern L.A. County.

In the 3rd District contest to replace termed-out Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, Kuehl raised $429,400 in cash and in-kind contributions and had more than $300,000 in cash heading into January. She was far ahead of John Duran, a West Hollywood city councilman, who announced he was running in early December and reported $54,000 on hand.

Two newcomers to the campaigns, former Santa Monica City Councilman Bobby Shriver and El Monte City Councilman Juventino “J” Gomez, weren’t required to file fundraising reports for last year.

Shriver is seeking Yaroslavsky’s Westside seat in the June 3 primary. Gomez is running for Molina’s seat and has been endorsed by his former boss, county Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich. The next fundraising report will be due in March.

In recent days, Shriver’s campaign has been making an appeal for donations via email and social media. The candidate, who operates two global philanthropic enterprises, has not ruled out using personal wealth to help finance his campaign against Kuehl.

By county law, candidates can accept up to $1,500 per contributor if voluntary expenditure limits are followed. The expenditure cap is roughly $1.4 million for the primary.

Solis, who has agreed to abide by the expenditure limits, is getting money from individuals and an array of Sacramento-based interest groups, including those representing labor, business, insurance and real estate. The former Obama administration official got contributions from interest groups or individuals based in Washington, the reports show.

Solis also drew support from the entertainment industry, including $1,500 from Sony Pictures; $1,500 each from studio mogul David Geffen and film director Steven Spielberg; more than $9,000 from different locals, political action committees and workers with the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees; and $500 from the Recording Industry Assn. of America.

Kuehl, who has also accepted voluntary limits, received contributions from a wide array of professionals living on the Westside, including lawyers, doctors, judges and educators. Former Sacramento colleagues, including state Sens. Fran Pavley and Mark Leno contributed $1,000 and $1,500, respectively.

The actress-turned-attorney had a big Hollywood contingent among her donors, including writers, producers and entertainers. Singers Barbra Streisand and Bonnie Raitt, actor Ed O’Neill and comedian Lily Tomlin contributed.

catherine.saillant@latimes.com

Times staff writer Abby Sewell contributed to this report.