$500,000 Raised at Dinner for Governor

Gov. George Deukmejian raised $500,000 in campaign contributions at a dinner here Wednesday night, bringing to $1.7 million the total he has raised during the last week for a possible third-term candidacy.

Deukmejian has not said whether he intends to run in 1990 for a third term as governor, but his political strategists are working to keep his options open by building a substantial campaign bank account well in advance of any race.

“It’s being raised with the view to running for a third term,” said Karl Samuelian, Deukmejian’s finance chairman. “The governor hasn’t made a decision yet but he’s seriously considering it.”

Last week, the Republican governor raised $1.2 million at a dinner in Los Angeles. Samuelian said it was more than any other politician, including any of the presidential candidates, has raised all year at a single event in Los Angeles.