Local Elections : Antonovich Sinks $1.1 Million Into Bid for Reelection

Los Angeles County Supervisor Mike Antonovich predicts that he will decisively win Tuesday’s nonpartisan primary election against his “gang of nine” challengers, but his latest campaign finance report indicates that he is not taking any chances.

Antonovich has sunk more than $1.1 million into his reelection bid since January, making it his most costly supervisorial campaign ever. By attacking his pro-growth policies as allowing too much development in the sprawling 5th Supervisorial District, his rivals have made the race the most vigorously contested of three supervisor elections on Tuesday’s ballot.

Much of Antonovich’s money--at least $450,000--has been spent on producing and airing radio and television ads. Fans of Phil Donahue and Oprah Winfrey, the king and queen of afternoon TV, have been fed a steady diet of the conservative Republican’s commercials. The spots are also being sandwiched between segments on the “Hollywood Squares” and other evening game shows, as well as Laker basketball playoff telecasts.

Avalanche of Mailers

On numerous radio stations, the two-term incumbent’s ads have aired hundreds of times, while an avalanche of mailers has been sent to many of the 5th District’s 827,261 voters.

In his ads, Antonovich promises to continue searching for solutions to traffic congestion, crime, drug abuse and pollution. In one commercial, Los Angeles County Sheriff Sherman Block portrays the supervisor as a crime buster.

To spread his message in a district that is larger than the state of Delaware, Antonovich has been spending money faster than he has been collecting it. During the first five months of 1988, supporters donated $723,190 to his campaign, requiring him to draw from his reserve. By the end of May, he had $113,647 left.

As in past campaigns, Antonovich has relied heavily on contributions from the building industry, financial institutions and businessmen. Some of the top contributors in 1988 have been Holden Group, an investment company, $10,000; Poe Development Co., a developer, $7,500, and Griffin Homes, a developer, $6,000.

Vocal Opponents

Antonovich’s campaign consultants will not divulge details about their million-dollar push to woo voters in the final days.

But his opponents have plenty to say.

“A million dollars on a supervisor’s race in Los Angeles County is ludicrous to the extreme,” said candidate Don Wallace, a Los Angeles city fire captain from Calabasas. “That’s more money than many governors spend.”

Wallace, who has received the endorsement of many Democratic politicians and groups, is the top fund raiser among the nine challengers. But it is not much of a distinction. Wallace’s $25,000 represents just 2% of Antonovich’s campaign chest.

Wiped Out Reserves

Buying a spot on the Democratic slate mailers put together by political consultants Michael Berman and Carl D’Agostino wiped out Wallace’s reserves. The mailers should reach the district’s 368,172 Democrats twice. There are 382,233 Republicans voters.

Meanwhile, ex-Supervisor Baxter Ward, trying to recapture his old job after an eight-year hiatus, is once again declining to accept any campaign contributions. The longtime television broadcaster has returned all the checks that he has received and declined help from dozens of admirers. He said he has taken the extreme position to illustrate how strongly he feels about Antonovich’s practice of accepting large contributions from special-interest groups.

“If people are interested in voting for me, I believe they will,” Ward added. “I don’t think circulars and flyers will make much difference.”