Gonzalez Closes In on Molina in Fund Raising

Assemblywoman Gloria Molina has held onto her fund-raising lead in her quest to be elected to the 1st District Los Angeles City Council seat, but a surge in recent contributions to school board member Larry Gonzalez has narrowed the gap between the two top candidates, according to campaign reports filed Thursday with the city clerk’s office.

Molina has now raised a total of $178,715, compared with Gonzalez’s $162,914. However, in the most recent campaign contribution reporting period covering Dec. 21 to Jan. 17, Gonzalez surpassed Molina; he raised $133,704 to Molina’s $82,447.

The two other candidates in the Feb. 3 special election in the Eastside district raised considerably less money with which to wage their campaigns. Community planner Leland Wong reported contributions totaling $23,640, mostly from the Chinese-American community in San Francisco, where Wong held a fund-raiser.

Businessman Paul D.Y. Moore has raised $10,882. Most of his contributions were in the $100 range.

Gonzalez’s report shows maximum allowable $500 contributions each from committees of his most prominent backers, Councilman Richard Alatorre and state Democratic Sen. Art Torres.

He also listed many $500 contributions from major developers, including Goldrich & Kest and Alexander Haagen Co. Inc. Other $500 contributions to Gonzalez included those from political committees supporting Assemblymen Mike Roos, Richard Polanco and Richard Floyd. Unions, such as United Firefighters and the Los Angeles Police Protective League, also gave Gonzalez $500 each.

Molina totaled more in contributions under $100: $13,020 compared to $8,750 for Gonzalez. Molina claimed support from many women on the Westside, as well as some Eastside activists such as attorney Antonio Rodriguez. Political committees supporting Councilmen Joel Wachs and Michael Woo and Rep. Edward Roybal (D-Los Angeles) each gave $500 to Molina. She also received $500 from the Los Angeles League of Conservation Voters.