Fattens His Campaign Fund : Friendly Fresno Is Reelection Feast for the Governor

Usually, the Fresno State Bulldogs are the only ones to draw sellout crowds in this San Joaquin Valley city.

But Gov. George Deukmejian earned that distinction Thursday, turning away supporters at a $250-a-plate fund-raising dinner that pulled in $230,000 for his expected reelection campaign and set what is said to be a local record for a political event.

Dinner organizers said the biggest blocks of tickets went to farmers and members of the Armenian community, who share a strong ethnic bond with Deukmejian, son of Armenian immigrant parents.

“It’s a complete sellout. The phone’s been ringing off the hook, but I couldn’t fit another soul in the room. We probably could have sold another 100, 150 tickets,” said Richard Peters, a local grower and a Deukmejian appointee to the state Board of Food and Agriculture. He served as dinner chairman.

The fund raiser comes on top of $2.65 million the governor has already banked for his still-not-officially-announced reelection campaign next year. And it widens the already significant gap between Deukmejian and his likely Democratic rival for the governorship, Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley.

Los Angeles Deputy Mayor Tom Houston estimates that Bradley has raised about $600,000 so far.

Deukmejian, speaking to reporters during a tour of the Fresno County Fair, said, “We want to be as well prepared as we can be.”

The governor said he expects next year’s reelection campaign to cost in the $8-million to $9-million range. “It’s going to take a lot of money.”

Some of the money that came in during Thursday’s dinner, held at the downtown Holiday Inn, was raised by Fresno attorney Anthony P. Capozzi, Bradley’s 1982 Fresno County chairman.

Defection Downplayed

Capozzi, a well-known local political activist who also served as Western regional finance director for Democrat Walter F. Mondale’s unsuccessful presidential campaign in 1984, personally contributed $10,000 to Bradley when he ran against Deukmejian the first time in 1982 and helped the mayor raise an additional $50,000 in the Central Valley.

Houston downplays the defection. “He was by no means a major player in the Bradley campaign. He gave us only $10,000, and we didn’t raise that much in the valley anyway, something like 1% to 3% of the overall contributions. We are not going to lose a dime because of him,” Houston said during a telephone interview.

But the defection caused quite a stir in local political circles, and has left the Deukmejian camp pleased. “We’re delighted that he is going to be working to help us,” the governor said.

Deukmejian’s visit to the fair was the first by a governor in 20 years, local officials said. Deukmejian got the red-carpet treatment during his hourlong tour.

The governor handed out awards to school age 4-H Club members and Future Farmers of America, who showed off prize goats, sheep and bulls. Wearing an oversize “Raisin Power” button, the governor wandered through exhibits of fruit and produce sponsored by agricultural communities like Kingsburg, Laton, Easton and Reedley.

Many of those who accompanied Deukmejian on the tour are members of the Armenian community, as are a substantial portion of those who paid $250 each to attend the dinner.

Peters said about three of every 10 tickets sold went to someone in the Armenian community. Historically, Armenians have been a strong cultural and economic force in Fresno County. For them, Deukmejian is a source of pride.

Marvin Baxter, a local attorney of Armenian descent who now serves as Deukmejian’s appointments secretary in Sacramento, said:

“For many years, the thought of someone of Armenian ancestry making it in public life was a dream. It just didn’t happen. We are very proud of George Deukmejian.”

About 40% of the tickets sold went to farmers, according to Peters.

Local officials said the dinner turnout was even more impressive because farmers in the Central Valley are caught up in bad times with tight credit, dwindling overseas markets for their produce and rising costs for farm equipment.

“There are bankruptcies everyday,” said state Sen. Rose Ann Vuich (D-Dinuba), a surprise member of the Deukmejian party on the fair tour.

The Democrat had some kind words for Deukmejian, although she stopped short of endorsing him.

Asked by a reporter if she would like to see Deukmejian as governor for four more years, Vuich said: “I wouldn’t object to it.”