Vasquez Raises $360,000 for His First Campaign

Facing his first election campaign as a county supervisor, Gaddi H. Vasquez has raised about $360,000 in the 10 months since he was appointed to the board by Gov. George Deukmejian, according to finance statements filed Monday.

The mandatory statements were filed by all of the supervisors. Vasquez reported that he had raised about $270,000 as of Dec. 31. Since then, he said, he has added more than $90,000 from two fund-raisers, including one on Friday that was attended by Deukmejian.

“It puts us in a position to mount a very formidable campaign,” Vasquez said. “But I can’t hide the fact that it would be nice not to have to mount a major campaign.”

So far, Vasquez, 33, faces no announced opponent in his June election bid, although Placentia Councilman Norman Eckenrode said Monday he is considering a challenge.

Roger R. Stanton is the only other member of the Board of Supervisors on the June ballot. Stanton, who faces no declared opponent so far, reported $304,143 in the bank.

Stanton, however, is contemplating a run for the congressional seat of Rep. Robert Badham (R-Newport Beach), who will not seek reelection this year. To run, Stanton would have to give up his supervisorial seat, and federal campaign laws would prohibit the transfer of much of his present campaign fund to the new race.

The campaign finance statement filed by Supervisor Don R. Roth, who was elected to the board last year, showed that he has nearly eliminated a $213,000 debt.

Roth’s race against former Orange Mayor Jim Beam was the most expensive in the county’s history. Roth spent almost $660,000. His report shows that the Don Roth Committee has about $15,000 in the bank, with outstanding debts of about $32,000.

Supervisor Harriett M. Wieder is considering a run for the congressional seat of Rep. Dan Lungren (R-Long Beach).

Her report Monday showed more than $166,000 in her account for a reelection campaign. She said her accountants have learned that about $44,000 of that could be used in a federal race, where contribution limits are stricter.

Vasquez, a Republican and former Orange police officer, said Monday that his fund raising has exceeded even his own targets. He said he had planned on having only $300,000 by February.

He said there were elected city officials from 18 Orange County cities at his fund-raiser Friday.

“You can’t raise this kind of money without a very broad base of support,” he said. “It says that people, particularly locally elected officials, are comfortable with the kind of leadership we are bringing to the board.”