Tsukahara Leads Gardena Fund-Raisers : Councilman Raises $20,015; Kaji Tops Treasurer Candidates

Incumbent Paul Tsukahara is the fund-raising leader in the four-candidate race for two seats on the Gardena City Council, while in the wide-open race for city treasurer, political newcomer Jonathan Kaji has raised more money than his two opponents.

According to campaign records, Tsukahara, who is seeking his third term, reported contributions totaling $20,015 on March 31, the close of the second campaign finance reporting period. From Feb. 28 to March 26, Tsukahara raised $18,315, campaign records showed.

$100 Contributions

Tsukahara reported contributions of $100 each from council candidate Ollie B. Hadley, Councilman Mas Fukai, outgoing City Treasurer George Kobayashi, and the Friends of Warren Furutani, the Los Angeles School Board member. Councilwoman Gwen Duffy also contributed $50 to Tsukahara’s reelection bid.

About $12,000 is remaining of his campaign funds, Tsukahara said last week.

Challenger Hadley, a management consultant, was Tsukahara’s nearest competitor in raising money. Hadley’s campaign records show a total of $6,380 in contributions from Feb. 28 to March 26. His total contributions for the two campaign reporting periods was $8,488.61.

Hadley received donations of $100 each from all three Gardena treasurer candidates, in addition to $500 from the Hollypark Political Action Committee, a group that represents some citizens in northern Gardena. On March 31, Hadley reported $3,774.47 remaining in his campaign fund.

Incumbent Councilman James Cragin’s records show contributions of $4,646 for the first two campaign reporting periods. Challenger Eldore (Bud) Nelson, a retired aircraft inspector and community activist, reported no official election committee and no campaign contributions or expenses. But Nelson said he had spent about $1,500 of his savings on campaign materials and expected to spend $500 before April 12. Such spending does not have to be reported.

h In the treasurer’s race, Kaji reported contributions of $16,479 during the second filing period, for a total of $18,576 since the beginning of the campaign. His contributions included a $500 donation from Councilman Tsukahara, who is his uncle, and $100 contributions from outgoing Treasurer Kobayashi, City Clerk May Doi and Los Angeles City Councilman Michael Woo.

Spent $8,027

Kaji said Thursday that he has spent $8,027 so far in his bid for the treasurer’s position.

Treasurer candidate Kenneth Sutton reported a total of $16,763 in fund-raising, including $4,500 he had borrowed. He estimated that he had spent most of it.

Lorenzo Ybarra’s campaign for treasurer has raised $6,492, including in-kind contributions valued at $2,800, Ingrid Tsukiyama, his campaign treasurer, said Friday. Ybarra had spent $2,401, she said.