The Bottom Line in Bradley, Deukmejian Campaigns

Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley raised slightly more money than Gov. George Deukmejian in the stretch drive of their gubernatorial campaign, but the Republican chief executive continued to outspend him, the two camps reported Friday.

Since the campaign got under way late last year, Deukmejian has raised $13 million, compared to about $7 million for Bradley.

Bradley, who had been whittling away at Deukmejian’s once-commanding lead in the opinion polls through the summer, raised $1.3 million, including $557,500 in interest-free loans, during the first 2 1/2 weeks of this month, the last official reporting period before the Nov. 4 general elections. Deukmejian raised $930,000.

But the governor spent $2.1 million, including $1.9 million on broadcast advertising, while the mayor spent $1.7 million overall.

Financial Strength

Another indicator of Deukmejian’s financial strength was the $2.5 million that his campaign still had in the bank after that spending spree, compared to only $293,000 for Bradley.

“We’re raising money like crazy and spending it like crazy,” said Ali Webb, Bradley’s campaign press secretary.

Webb said that while Deukmejian will have more television advertising during the last days of the campaign, the Bradley forces have concentrated their commercials in major market areas where they expect an equal number of voters to see and hear them.

But Karl Samuelian, Deukmejian’s campaign finance chairman, said receipts of 45,000 large and small contributions for the governor reflected “overwhelming support and enthusiasm for a second term.”

In other races, the opponents of Proposition 65, the anti-toxics initiative, outspent supporters by nearly 8 to 1, according to documents filed with the secretary of state’s office. In the reporting period, opponents said they spent $1.5 million, while supporters reported spending only $193,000.

State Controller’s Race

In the close race for state controller, Republican state Sen. William Campbell of Hacienda Heights raised $834,000 in the last period, compared to $550,000 by Democratic Assemblyman Gray Davis of Los Angeles.

Davis, however, outspent Campbell $1.1 million to $879,000 during the period and holds an overall spending lead in the general election of $2.2 million to Campbell’s $1.5 million. More than $500,000 of the money raised by Campbell this period consisted of loans from wealthy supporters.

Incomplete reports also showed that Assembly Speaker Willie Brown (D-San Francisco) raised $3.37 million and spent $4.11 million since January to help maintain and expand his 47-33 vote majority in the lower house. GOP minority Leader Pat Nolan (R-Glendale) raised $1.27 million and spent $1.47 million.

Senate President Pro Tem David A. Roberti (D-Los Angeles) and committees controlled by him reported raising about $2 million since Jan. 1, compared to about $1.3 million raised by his Republican counterpart, Sen. James W. Nielsen (R-Rohnert Park). The Democrats now control the Senate by a 26-14 margin.

Last Reporting Period

Although this was the last reporting period before the election, contributors of $1,000 or more must file late contribution telegrams daily until Nov. 3.

Bradley reported receiving $105,000 in donations and $127,000 in loans in the first sprinkling of late contributions made after the Oct. 18 deadline. The largest of the loans, $77,000, came from Ronald S. Lushing, a Beverly Hills real estate investor.

Deukmejian reported receiving $32,500 in late contributions.

Major contributors to Deukmejian during the Oct. 1-18 reporting period included the Blackhawk Corp. of Danville, a real estate development firm, $25,000; nursing home operators, $20,000; physicians, $20,000; dentists, $25,000; certified public accountants, $15,000, and Neil Papiano, attorney and Hollywood Park race track executive, $20,000.

Hefty Donations

Other hefty donations came from apartment owners, banks, railroads, attorneys, insurance companies, developers and wine, beer and tobacco interests. The Deukmejian campaign committee also reported wealthy agri-businessmen donated the use of their airplanes for the governor’s campaign swings.

Bradley reported receiving loans totaling $557,500, including $25,000 from Frederick W. Field, whose family owned the Chicago Sun-Times, and $50,000 from the Los Angeles law firm of Greene, O’Reilly, Broillet, Paul, Simon, McMillan, Wheeler & Rosenberg. The law firm also is a major financial supporter of Chief Justice Rose Elizabeth Bird’s reconfirmation campaign.

The largest donation received by Bradley between Oct. 1 and Oct. 18 was $30,000 from the California Trial Lawyers Assn. Other major donations were $10,000 each from the Ocean Pacific Sunwear company in Tustin; the United Auto Workers in Bell; the Service Employees International Union based in Washington; Columbia Savings & Loan of Beverly Hills and Eclectic Communications Inc. of Ventura.

Entertainer Gene Autry gave $10,000, while Paramount Pictures Corp. and Walt Disney Productions each donated $5,000. Another $5,000 came from the Ralphs Grocery Co. Bradley reported receiving dozens of $100 to $500 contributions. Larger donations included $1,000 each from entertainment figures Neil Diamond, Danny Kaye, Lionel B. Richie, Norman Lear and Jerry Perenchio; $2,000 from Sloan’s Dry Cleaners in Los Angeles and $1,000 from developer Shapell Industries Inc.

Anti-Toxics Initiative

Proposition 65, the anti-toxics initiative, is a key controversial issue in the gubernatorial campaign with Bradley supporting it and Deukmejian opposing it. Similarly, Democratic U.S. Sen. Alan Cranston is a proponent and his GOP opponent, Rep. Ed Zschau, is an opponent.

Basically, it would limit the amount of chemicals causing cancer or birth defects that businesses could discharge into drinking water supplies.

The biggest contributors to the No-on-65 campaign have been oil companies. Since the start of the campaign, Chevron USA has given $274,675; Mobil Oil, $210,000; Shell Oil, $180,000; Arco, $150,000; Texaco, $140,000, and Exxon, $140,000.

The largest contributor to the Yes-on-65 campaign was Campaign California, a group put together by Assemblyman Tom Hayden (D-Santa Monica) and his actress wife, Jane Fonda. This organization donated $260,866 on behalf of the initiative.