Romey Endorsed by Davis, Whom Her Flyer Criticized

In the primary campaign for Los Angeles school board, West Valley candidate Barbara Romey sent out a mailer criticizing an opponent for receiving backing from a “gay-rights supporter.”

Now Romey has been endorsed by the same “gay-rights supporter,” state Sen. Ed Davis (R-Valencia), who voted in 1984 for legislation prohibiting employment discrimination against homosexuals.

Davis’ unsolicited support comes despite the fact that Romey’s campaign is being managed by Paul Clarke and is heavily backed by former U.S. Rep. Bobbi Fiedler (R-Northridge), one of Davis’ opponents in the 1986 Republican primary campaign for the U.S. Senate.

During that campaign, Davis accused Fiedler and Clarke, who was her campaign manager and is now her husband, of trying to bribe him into dropping out of the race. Both candidates eventually lost.

An Explanation

In explaining Davis’ endorsement, a spokesman said: “The senator is backing the candidate, not the people who are managing the candidate’s campaign.”

Davis had endorsed George St. Johns, his former aide, in the primary.

Clarke declined to discuss the endorsement except to say that the campaign has no plans to publicize it.

The endorsement was in a letter to Romey in which Davis expressed his support for her in the June 2 runoff and said “if there is anything that I can ever do to assist you in your efforts, please let me know.”

So far, Davis has not contributed any money to the Romey campaign, but campaign reports filed this week show that Romey has received nearly $3 for every $2 for her opponent, Julie Korenstein.

Real estate agents, developers and politicians dominate Romey’s list of contributors, while Korenstein’s financial support comes mainly from unions, teacher organizations and her own funds.

In reports delivered to the Los Angeles city clerk’s office late this week, Romey reported $91,919 in total contributions. Korenstein reported $64,128.

Most of the money in both camps has been spent--primarily on mailers and consultants--according to the reports.

Korenstein’s War Chest

Contributions to the Korenstein campaign included $7,500 from the California Teachers Assn., almost $17,000 in cash from United Teachers of Los Angeles and $1,000 from local labor unions. Korenstein, who coordinates a student community service volunteer program at Chatsworth High School, has lent her own campaign almost $11,000.

The Democratic Party of the San Fernando Valley is paying for Korenstein’s campaign headquarters, and UTLA picked up the tab for printing some campaign literature and signs for the candidate. Los Angeles City Councilman Hal Bernson is paying the rent on Romey’s campaign headquarters and paid for the printing of door hangers and lawn signs. Bernson, who represents the northwest Valley, also donated $10,000 from his campaign fund to the Romey campaign.

Other contributions to Romey’s campaign included $1,000 from Friends of Assemblywoman Marian W. La Follette (R-Northridge), $10,000 from state Sen. Alan Robbins (D-Van Nuys), and $900 from Margaret Brock, an influential Republican fund-raiser.

Romey, an accountant who was active in the fight to keep schools with low enrollments open, also received $500 from a consulting firm owned by former West Valley school board representative David Armor. Armor was elected in 1985 and resigned less than a year later. The upcoming election is to fill the final two years in his unexpired term. Romey was a fund-raiser and researcher for Armor’s campaign.