Robinson, Dornan Coffers Increase as Congressional Contest Heats Up

The two opponents for the central Orange County 38th Congressional District seat raised more than half a million dollars between them in the first half of the year, according to campaign expense reports.

Reports required by federal law and filed this week showed that Assemblyman Richard Robinson raised $82,870 from May 15 through June 30, giving him a total for the first six months of the year of $243,136.

Robinson said he spent $204,878 so far this year, leaving him with $38,258 cash on hand, $30,000 of it a loan from the political consulting firm of Berman and D’Agostino.

Robinson beat Superior Court Judge David Carter in the primary election for the Democratic nomination.

The man Robinson is trying to oust from office, Rep. Robert K. Dornan (R-Garden Grove), reported raising $89,995.77 in the May 15-June 30 period, giving him a total for the first half of the year of $307,620.89.

$1 Million Spent in 1984

Dornan, who spent more than $1 million two years ago in wresting the congressional seat from Democrat Jerry Patterson, also reported spending $258,558 so far this year, although he had no opposition in the June 3 primary election. The congressman had $73,772 cash on hand as of June 30.

“At this time in 1984 we had raised about $150,000, so we’re double that,” Dornan aide Brian O’Leary Bennett said. “Yeah, I think it will be an expensive (campaign).” Robinson, he said, “knows how to raise money, so I think it will be an expensive race.”

Political consultants have predicted that the Dornan-Robinson race could be the most expensive congressional battle in the country this fall.

Both candidates are known as no-holds-barred, bare-knuckle campaigners, making it likely that the fight will be spirited as well as costly.

Jim Carrick, treasurer of the Robinson campaign, said he did not believe the funds on hand were particularly low.

Funds for General Election

The concern until June 3 was “to get the money for the primary election,” Carrick said. Now Robinson “starts getting money for the general (election).”

In the 39th District, Rep. William Dannemeyer (R-Fullerton) reported raising $41,413 from May 15 through June 30, giving him a total for the year of $104,664, and cash on hand of $79,243. Dannemeyer’s Democratic opponent, David Vest, said he had not raised $5,000 by June 30 and thus was not required to file a report with the Federal Election Commission.

In the 40th District, Rep. Robert E. Badham (R-Newport Beach) wound up with only $4,365 cash on hand after a tough primary battle against Nathan O. Rosenberg.

Surplus Funds

Badham reported raising $95,809 and spending $121,874 in the May 15-June 30 period. For the first six months of the year, Badham reported raising $187,380 and spending $227,906. Badham started the year with a surplus, allowing him to make up the debt. He also reported that $3,500 of this year’s contributions will be returned because they were in excess of federal limits or from corporations.

Badham’s opponent, Bruce Sumner, who was declared the victor in the Democratic primary after a lengthy recount, raised about $30,000, according to his aide, David Paine. Sumner also loaned himself $22,000 in his write-in primary, Paine said.

In addition, the campaign spent an additional $8,000 to pay for the recount, including $2,000 of Sumner’s own money. Sumner spent all the money he received and had virtually no cash on hand at the end of the reporting period, Paine said.