Davis Lacks Money to Discourage Wright Challenge

State Sen. Ed Davis’ attempt to launch a preemptive fund-raising strike to persuade Assemblywoman Cathie Wright not to challenge him in a free-spending Republican primary next year appears to be misfiring. But Davis insists he has yet to roll out his biggest gun--himself.

Davis, of Valencia, raised $84,828 in the first half of this year, less than one-third of his stated goal of $300,000 for 1987.

Wright, of Simi Valley, who says she still has not decided whether to run in the heavily Republican 19th Senate District or seek reelection to her 37th Assembly District seat, has raised slightly more, $85,521.

Still Owes Creditors from 1986

Wright had $102,225 on hand in mid-July, more than double Davis’ war chest of $46,937, according to reports filed by Wright’s and Davis’ campaign committees with the secretary of state.

Adding to his woes, Davis said, he has dropped a previous request to the Federal Election Commission to allow him to ask creditors from his unsuccessful 1986 Republican U. S. Senate primary campaign to forgive most of the money he still owes them. The debt amounts to $71,556, according to a statement filed June 30 with the FEC.

That means Davis must strive to retire the remaining debt while also raising money for 1988.

Davis called public disclosure of the request by The Times in May “a bad experience.” He said the request was submitted to the FEC by his campaign treasurer, Elsie O. Olson, “without my knowledge.”

Wright, meanwhile, reiterated this week that she will not decide whether to mount a high-stakes challenge to Davis, a prominent two-term incumbent, until the end of the year.

But one of her key supporters, who requested anonymity, said: “My understanding is that it’s a 99% go. It looks like the money is going to be there.”

Davis’ press secretary, Eric Rose, also said it appears that Wright has decided to run. “She’s been all over the district,” he said.

Davis, who had predicted Wright would ultimately sidestep a Senate bid, referred to her in an interview Thursday as “my opponent.” He later said, however, that he hadn’t seen any signs that she definitely plans to give up her safe Assembly seat to oppose him.

Despite Wright’s early advantage, Davis maintains that his fund-raising is “in good shape” and insists that it is premature to assess his financial campaign clout. The former Los Angeles police chief said that, for instance, his campaign netted another $20,000 at an Aug. 15 barbecue and his major fund-raising dinner Nov. 14 is expected to garner $100,000.

Most significantly, he said, he will not begin his personal fund-raising efforts until the Legislature adjourns for the year in mid-September, when he will have 3 1/2 months to concentrate on campaign funds rather than legislation.

“She hasn’t out-raised us by much and I haven’t lifted a finger,” Davis said. “I haven’t talked to one soul about money. . . . While I’m working in the Legislature, I don’t have time to do that.”

He has, however, appeared at three cocktail fund-raisers, including a $500-a-person event for lobbyists and political action committees in Sacramento March 23, as well as the recent barbecue in Ventura County.

In early March, Hunt C. Braly, Davis’ administrative assistant, said Davis had retained a professional fund-raiser in Sacramento for the first time and was scheduling early fund-raising events--at least in part to persuade Wright not to jump into the ring.

Wright, 57, declined to comment on Davis’ fund-raising, saying, “That’s his problem.”

Davis, 70, said Wright’s 2-to-1 advantage in available funds is misleading because he has spent large amounts for campaign costs that she will inevitably entail if she runs. For instance, his report said he paid $13,500 to his campaign consultant, Arthur J. Finkelstein & Associates, for a public-opinion poll and $7,500 to Carey/Jenkins & Lewis Inc. for lists of voters with a history of going to the polls in GOP primaries.

Wright, a four-term assemblywoman, said she has not spent any money to prepare for a Senate race.

An advantage Wright gains by waiting to declare her candidacy is that special-interest political action committees can contribute to her as an Assembly incumbent without overtly offending an incumbent senator by aiding his opponent. Several PACs have contributed to both officeholders, which is not surprising, since some of the committees they serve on in the Legislature cover the same industries.

Large Sums from PACs

Davis can take solace in having a broader fund-raising base. He received significantly more small contributions--a total of $13,075 given in amounts of less than $100--while Wright received all but $1,516 of her money in contributions exceeding $100.

Both Davis and Wright received large sums from PACs with heavy legislative agendas, especially in banking, insurance and finance. Davis’ committee assignments include Banking and Commerce, and Wright’s include Finance and Insurance, which handles banking legislation. Wright, who is vice chairwoman of the Utilities and Commerce Committee, also received substantial contributions from utility PACs.

Davis’ largest donor, with three contributions totaling $5,188, was Newhall Land & Farming Co., a major developer in the Santa Clarita Valley and one of the largest landowners in California. Davis has a partnership interest of less than 10% in Newhall Land & Farming, valued at between $10,001 and $100,000, according to his 1987 statement of economic interests.

Newhall Land & Farming also gave $2,000 to Wright, her campaign report disclosed.

The 19th Senate District is so heavily Republican that the GOP nomination is considered tantamount to election. The sprawling district extends across the West San Fernando Valley, western Antelope Valley, the northern and non-coastal sections of Ventura County and most of Santa Barbara County.

Davis, a colorful veteran of nearly 50 years in public life, was reelected with 74.5% of the vote in 1984.

Last year, however, he engaged in a highly publicized spat with former Rep. Bobbi Fiedler of Northridge, who he charged tried to buy him out of the U. S. Senate primary when both were candidates by promising to help him raise money to pay off his campaign debt. As a result, Fiedler and her campaign manager, Paul Clarke, were indicted. Though a judge eventually threw out the indictments as groundless, Fiedler’s campaign was crippled and the bad blood lingers.

Wright, a Fiedler ally, said earlier this year that she would decide whether to challenge Davis based on whether he heals the lingering wounds among San Fernando Valley Republicans and mends fences with Fiedler.

Neither Davis nor Fiedler has shown any indication of making up.