ELECTIONS ’88 : Orange County : Builders Boost Hart’s War Chest to $81,000

Helped by several large contributions from major Orange County builders, Newport Beach Councilwoman Evelyn Hart has raised more than $81,000 toward her campaign to unseat 70th District Assemblyman Gil Ferguson (R-Newport Beach), according to campaign finance reports filed Thursday.

Hart, who raised $67,639 between March 17 and Saturday, had more than $34,000 in her campaign bank account going into the final three weeks before the June 7 GOP primary.

Ferguson’s report was not available Thursday, but a campaign aide said that the two-term assemblyman had raised $170,225 in the most recent reporting period and a total of $340,222. He had almost $85,000 in the bank on May 21, the aide said.

Ferguson also controls the Free Market Political Action Committee, which raised $51,780 in the most recent period and had $38,063 in the bank as of May 21.

The third Republican candidate, Laguna Beach environmentalist Mike Mang, has raised less than $1,000 for his campaign.

A review of Hart’s campaign finance report showed that about 25% of the money she has raised this year came from developers and others in the real estate and construction business.

Hart received $5,000 from the Mission Viejo Co., $5,000 from the Rancho Santa Margarita Co., $4,000 from the Koll Co. and its employees, and $1,000 from Warmington Homes.

Smaller Contributors

Hart also received dozens of contributions of $100 to $500 from homemakers, attorneys, restaurant owners and other people in business. She also raised $10,621 in contributions of less than $100.

Hart could not be reached for comment Thursday.

Asked about the contributions to Hart from the development industry, Ferguson said some county developers are trying to oust him because he refuses to “carry their water” with special-interest legislation that goes against his philosophy. He also said his unadorned stands on issues--such as his position against rent control of any kind--embarrass the builders, who prefer a more subtle approach.

“They don’t want an ideologue out there who is concerned with property rights,” Ferguson said. “The name of the game is development. If they have to haul down the flag to do it, they will.”

Ferguson, a former public relations executive for the Irvine Co., said he knows from experience what the development industry wants from politicians.

“When I was there, I was the one who gave out the (campaign) money,” he said. “I gave it to people who would do things for us, not to guys who just took strong stands on property rights. In their best interests, they think it would be better to get me out of there.”

Money From Builders

A Times study of Ferguson’s 1987 contributions indicated that he received more money from the real estate and development industry than from any other single interest group that year. But Ferguson said most of that money came from builders, construction companies and contractors, not the landowners who hold vacant parcels that they are eager to develop.

Ferguson said he intends to send out one more campaign piece before the primary election--an endorsement letter from Gov. George Deukmejian--to every Republican household in the district.

Deukmejian, who for the first time has endorsed all Republican incumbents in the primaries, is scheduled to be in Orange County on June 3 for a Ferguson fund-raiser.