Kathleen Brown, Friend Campaign in County

Democrat Kathleen Brown, a candidate for state treasurer, campaigned in Orange County Saturday with a woman she would like to emulate: Texas Treasurer Ann Richards.

Richards, the white-haired grandmother who gave the fiery keynote speech at the Democratic National Convention last summer, was helping Brown in her race for California treasurer. “I know what it is like to take on a race of this sort,” Richards said. “It is more difficult for women to raise money.”

Brown, 43, so far is the only announced candidate for the Democratic nomination for California treasurer, the post held for 13 years by Jesse Unruh, who died last August. In the fall election of 1990, she is likely to face either Thomas Hayes, a Republican who was appointed by Gov. George Deukmejian to fill Unruh’s spot, or former U.S. Treasurer Angela (Bay) Buchanan of Irvine, who has declared she will challenge Hayes for the GOP nomination.

Elected to School Board

Brown is the daughter of former Gov. Edmund G. (Pat) Brown and sister of former Gov. Edmund G. (Jerry) Brown Jr., who now is state Democratic Party chairman. A lawyer, Kathleen Brown was twice elected to the Los Angeles school board and now is a Los Angeles Board of Public Works commissioner.

She said both Browns are involved in her campaign.

“I get plenty of advice from my father and from my brother, but then I’ve always gotten a lot of advice from them,” Brown said to laughter.

The mid-afternoon, $250-per-person hors d’oeuvre-and-wine party was held at the home of Walter B. Gerken, retired chairman of Pacific Mutual Life Insurance Co., and his wife, Darlene, on Spy Glass Hill in Corona del Mar. It was one of five fund-raisers for Brown over the weekend around the state, which netted her a total of about $100,000, according to Steve Glazer of Brown’s campaign. About $20,000 of that was raised in Orange County on Saturday, Glazer said.

Richards, who is a candidate for Texas governor, stood in the Gerkens’ living room, her elbow comfortably on the mantle, and told about 30 Brown supporters that “women have always had it a little bit harder” in raising money for their campaigns.

“It is partially because we’re an unknown quantity,” Richards said. Also, she said, “we don’t have the kinds of contacts that men who make these races have. So I wanted to come help Kathleen in her pursuit.”

Brown has virtually preempted any Democratic opposition by starting to campaign as early as last summer. New campaign finance limitations put in effect by Proposition 73, which was passed by voters last fall, make it essential for candidates to begin raising money as early as possible.

“My goal has been to clear the Democratic field and keep it clear,” Brown said, taking her turn in front of the Gerkens’ fireplace. “Given the new financing rules, one has to get out early and work hard.”

Asked whether she would prefer Hayes or Buchanan as an opponent, Brown told a family tale. She said her father, then seeking reelection to his third term, was relieved to get as an opponent “a former, retired, not very successful actor” rather than a retired San Francisco mayor he thought to be “quite formidable.”

“My father now signs his letters when he writes to Ronald Reagan, ‘P.S. Remember, I’m the man who gave you your start.’ ”

Brown drew a laugh when she said she would be happy to face either GOP candidate in the general election.