Katz Leads All in Vote Funds; GOP Comes to Thoreson Aid

Embroiled in what is considered the most hotly contested race in the San Fernando Valley this year, Assemblyman Richard Katz (D-Sepulveda) raised and spent more money this summer than any other state candidate in the area.

Katz’s Republican opponent in the Nov. 4 election, Robert F. Thoreson, could not match Katz’s bankroll, but he, too, was one of the top fund-raisers in the Valley from July through September, according to the latest campaign finance reports.

During the three-month period, Katz’s backers contributed $137,287 to the three-term assemblyman who is squaring off against Thoreson, an auto-theft detective with the Los Angeles Police Department, for the second election in a row. Katz spent $160,177 and had almost $50,000 left in the bank as the contest headed into its final month.

Thoreson, 42, received $98,444 and spent $76,301 in the same period. As of the filing deadline, he had $28,000 remaining.

From January to September, contributions in the contest for the 39th Assembly District, which stretches from San Fernando and Pacoima to Granada Hills and Northridge, have surpassed the half-million-dollar mark. Katz accounted for the bulk of it--$398,044--whereas Thoreson came in at $162,667.

High-Priced Competition

The race evolved into a high-priced one after Minority Leader Pat Nolan (R-Glendale) and other Assembly Republican leaders decided that Katz was vulnerable because of the many GOP voters in the district. Although Democrats outnumber Republican voters 56.7% to 34.9%, Republicans consider the district winnable because traditionally Republicans turn out at the polls more often and Democrats are more likely to vote for GOP candidates.

For that reason, Katz spent more than $25,000 during the last three months on a voter registration drive to bring more Democrats into the fold. Thoreson also launched a massive registration drive with volunteers at grocery stores and shopping centers. Since May, 2,839 Republicans were registered in the district against 4,769 Democrats.

In the end, Katz succeeded in preventing the GOP from gaining ground in the registration percentages. In May, 35% of registered voters were Republicans; at the end of the drive, the GOP percentage had dropped slightly, to 34.9%.

Thoreson’s biggest contributor during the campaign has been the political action committee operated by Nolan and the other GOP assemblymen. So far this year, the group has given Thoreson $56,500.

Appealing for Help

The challenge facing Thoreson is persuading GOP leaders that they should invest in him further. Thoreson, saying he hopes to get another $100,000 from party leaders, reported that he has asked U. S. Sen. Pete Wilson (R-Calif.), Los Angeles County Supervisors Deane Dana and Pete Schabarum and some assemblymen and state senators for help.

Thoreson said he is not concerned that Katz is collecting more money, as he expects to raise another $150,000, which would enable him to send out all the mailers he has planned.

“I don’t think it matters . . . I think it’s a matter of the issues, getting the issues out,” he said.

Katz received a number of contributions from political action committees, including $5,800 from California Real Estate PAC, $2,000 from the California Teachers Assn., $800 from the Assn. of Highway Patrolmen, $2,000 from the California Bankers Assn., $300 from the California Cable Television Assn. and varying amounts from several labor groups.

He also received many individual contributions, including $100 gifts from Doris B. Meyer, Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley’s liaison in the Valley; Dr. Lewis Weintraub, the husband of Roberta L. Weintraub, a Los Angeles school board member from the Valley, and Joe T. Edmiston, executive director of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy. Robert Ronka, a former Los Angeles city councilman from the Valley, contributed $250.

Criticized for Donations

Katz criticized Thoreson for accepting what he said amounted to $15,000 to $20,000 from gravel, sand and related businesses that bitterly opposed Katz’s “stop-the-rocks” bill this year. The bill, which was defeated, would have required trucks to cover their open truck beds to prevent spilling rocks and gravel from cracking windshields.

Thoreson said he thinks he received less than the amount Katz estimated. The spending report noted several contributions from sand and rock businesses, including $250 from Cal Mat of Los Angeles, which has given him $1,500 since January.

Thoreson said accepting the money does not mean he would vote against the bill. He said he thinks the industry contributed simply because “they don’t like Richard Katz.”

In other Valley Assembly contests, the incumbents continue to greatly outdistance their challengers in fund-raising. In most if not all of the remaining Valley races, the GOP and Democratic incumbents are thought to be shoo-ins for reelection.

In the 37th Assembly District, Assemblywoman Cathie Wright (R-Simi Valley) raised $45,188 during the three months, spent $23,777 and had a balance of $125,827. Her Democratic opponent, William P. Hesse, did not file a return by the deadline. Libertarian Gregory P. Dull was not required to file a return because he had raised and spent less than $500.

38th-District Comparison

In the 38th Assembly District race, Assemblywoman Marian W. La Follette (R-Northridge) had raised $46,801, spent $56,934, leaving her with $111,654 in the bank. Her Democratic opponent, Mark Lit, had raised $6,005, spent $4,225 and was left with $2,867.

In the 40th Assembly District, Assemblyman Tom Bane (D-Van Nuys) received $9,625 in the three-month reporting period and spent $130,110, leaving him with $381,795. His opponent, Republican Brian K. Dennis, collected $5,442, spent $4,053, leaving him with $1,487.

In the 43rd Assembly District, an open seat, Democrat Terry Friedman received $9,177, spent $8,923 and was left with $54,320. His Republican opponent, Marc Schuyler, did not file a report. Peace and Freedom candidate John Honigsfeld was not required to file a report because he raised and spent less than $500.