11 S.D. Lawmakers Busy Raising Funds

Preparing to do battle more than a year before the next round of legislative elections, 11 San Diego lawmakers have raised more than $400,000 among them so far in 1987, according to campaign finance reports filed with the Secretary of State.

The four senators and seven Assembly members with constituencies that include San Diego County spent nearly $360,000 on campaign-related business during the first six months of the year, the reports show.

Most active among the delegation were two Chula Vista Democrats--Sen. Wadie Deddeh, who collected more than $63,000, and Assemblyman Steve Peace, who raised nearly $52,000.

In another important category--money in the bank--Sen. William Craven (R-Oceanside) had the largest war chest on hand, with nearly $300,000 in reserve.

Although a seat in the Legislature has long been considered a full-time job, the most recent campaign reports make it clear that keeping those seats has also become a year-round institution. Incumbent legislators who once shut down their campaigns between elections now more often than not keep campaign offices open and staffed between races.

The money to fund these efforts comes mainly from special interest groups with a stake in legislation under consideration at the Capitol.

San Diego lawmakers spent their campaign funds on everything from rent to staff salaries to maintaining office plants, as well as political travel and restaurant tabs.

Among Deddeh’s expenditures, for example, were $116 for a meal at the Black Angus restaurant, $245 at the Reuben E. Lee, and $760 at Anthony’s Star of the Sea Room on the Embarcadero.

Deddeh gave $30,000 to a political action committee Sen. David Roberti (D-Los Angeles) organized to support the successful special election campaign of Sen. Cecil Green (D-Norwalk). Craven and Sen. Jim Ellis (R-San Diego) countered Deddeh’s largesse by giving a total of $15,000 to two statewide Republican groups that supported Green’s opponent.

Several San Diego legislators contributed part of their campaign funds to local charities. Peace gave $100 to the Special Olympics and the same amount to the California Center on Victimology. Deddeh donated $100 to the San Diego County Hebrew Day School, $100 to the Polish-American Assn. of San Diego and $785 to the Mexican-American Foundation.

The lawmakers’ war chests as of June 30 ranged from Craven’s $294,993 to $5,828 in the account of Assemblyman Peter Chacon, a San Diego Democrat. The others were Sen. Marian Bergeson (R-Newport Beach), who represents much of North County, $167,967; Deddeh, $135,792; Ellis, $47,076; Peace, $26,588; Assemblywoman Sunny Mojonnier (R-Encinitas), $24,991; Assemblyman Bill Bradley (R-San Marcos), $19,149; Assemblyman Robert Frazee (R-Carlsbad), $18,568; Assemblyman Larry Stirling (R-San Diego), $15,445, and Assemblywoman Lucy Killea (D-San Diego), $14,740.