Bane Raises $339,071 in 1st Half of 1989 : Campaign Contributions to Valley-Area State Legislators Vary Widely

San Fernando Valley-area legislators raised amounts ranging from a few thousand to one-third of a million dollars during the first six months of this year, state campaign records said Wednesday.

On the low end, Assemblyman Terry B. Friedman (D-Los Angeles) received a modest $14,650 in contributions, and spent $6,449. By the end of the finance period, he had $15,466 in his main campaign fund.

At the other extreme, Tom Bane (D-Tarzana), one of the Assembly’s most effective fund-raisers, received $339,071.

Despite spending $78,238 during the period for, among other things a $19,000 fund-raising event at the Century Plaza Hotel, he had $431,449 on hand at the end of the reporting period June 30.

The statement shows the refund of $5,000 to the Bicycle Club of Bell Gardens on Jan. 23. Under new campaign rules, the limit on corporate donations is $1,000.

“It was illegal to accept $5,000. When we discovered it, we returned it,” said Ellen Smith, a spokeswoman for the Bane organization.

Medical Groups

Bane received donations from a variety of medical organizations and doctors, including: Physicians Interindemnity in Glendale ($5,000), the Optometric PAC of Sacramento ($5,000), Los Angeles County Medical Assn. ($2,500). He also received donations from the Beverly Hills Gun Club ($1,000), Hollywood Park ($1,000), and the Teamsters of California, No. 42, in Los Angeles ($2,000).

State Sen. Alan Robbins, (D-Tarzana) raised $147,330. The vast majority of the money was raised at his annual birthday celebration, which featured a dinner and show at the Century Plaza at which Rita Moreno performed.

A number of recipients repaid loans Robbins had made over the years.

They included conservative broadcaster Wally George, whose 1981, $3,300 loan was paid May 24. The money went to a shelter for the homeless, said Teri Burns, Robbins’ legislative assistant.

Others paying loans were church groups such as the Sentinel Group ($5,750), and Dr. Leroy Sanders Ministries ($4,000).

Large Lead

Assemblywoman Cathie Wright (R-Simi Valley) got off to a large lead in the fund-raising race over an early challenger.

Wright raised $105,436 to $28,768 by Hunt Braly, an aide to state Sen. Ed Davis (R-Valencia).

Even after spending nearly $70,000 during the six-month period, Wright still had more than three times as much money on hand as Braly, who received $500 from Davis and $100 each from Santa Clarita City Councilman Carl Boyer III and Davis campaign manager Martha Zilm.

Braly recently moved from Woodland Hills to Wright’s heavily Republican 37th District when he purchased a condominium in Valencia. He said he has raised an additional $21,000 in the past month and predicted a spirited campaign for Wright’s seat.

Wright has said she will seek a sixth term despite the controversy that has swirled around her over her efforts to help her daughter, who was in trouble with authorities over her driving record.

Wright Donors

Wright’s donors included Newhall Land and Farming Co. ($2,500), Griffin Homes in Calabasas ($1,000), Rockwell International in El Segundo ($1,000) and the California Correctional Peace Officers Assn.

In the 19th Senate District, Davis, whose term is not up until 1992, raised $49,447. He spent most of that total but ended the period with $127,880. He had another $2,500 in restricted funds, which have strict limits on their use under the new campaign law.

The former Los Angeles police chief received contributions from legal and law enforcement groups, including the Assn. of California Attorneys/Judges PAC ($500), the Assn. for California Tort Reform PAC ($1,000), the California Employment Law Council ($500) and the California Trial Lawyers PAC ($500).

In the 38th District, Marian W. La Follette (R-Northridge) raised $41,053 and ended up with $45,526.