Gallegly, Lagomarsino Top Fund-Raisers : Congress Contributions Range From $153,216 to Beilenson’s $1,376

Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-Simi Valley), who faced a well-financed primary opponent last year, and Rep. Robert Lagomarsino (R-Ventura), who narrowly won reelection in November, were the top campaign fund-raisers among San Fernando Valley area congressional lawmakers in the first half of 1989, according to campaign reports filed with the federal government.

Gallegly raised $153,216 and Lagomarsino $136,106 toward their 1990 reelections bids, according to the reports covering the period of Jan. 1 through June 31. Officeholders and candidates were required to have their campaign donations statements to the Federal Election Commission postmarked by midnight on Monday.

On the other side of the contributions spectrum, Rep. Anthony C. Beilenson (D-Tarzana), who eschews fund-raising in non-election years, reported receiving only $1,376 in the first six months of the year. The bulk of that sum, $1,000, came from Beverly Hills philanthropist Mark S. Taper.

Large War Chest

A review of campaign statements filed by other Valley area lawmakers found that Rep. Carlos Moorhead (R-Glendale), who generally faces only token opposition, has stockpiled $616,181 in campaign funds.

Reps. Howard L. Berman (D-Panorama City) and Henry A. Waxman (D-Los Angeles), prolific fund-raisers who team up to steer campaign dollars to other liberal Democrats, reported light activity. Berman raised $11,675 and Waxman $8,700.

Nevertheless, Waxman has a campaign fund of $255,632 and Berman $108,397. Neither has faced serious opposition in their solidly Democratic districts.

Gallegly acknowledged that his quick fund-raising start for the 1990 elections was intended to deter any potential primary opposition in the heavily Republican 21st District.

“I would be less than honest with anyone if I said that I didn’t care whether I had a campaign or not,” Gallegly said Wednesday. “It’s certainly in the best interest of your job if you don’t have that distraction.”

Gallegly’s receipts included $39,069, or 24% of his total, from special-interest political action committees. He said he still receives a larger percentage of contributions from individuals than the average House member.

Defense Industry Gifts

Among his most generous contributors were the PACs of major defense contractors in his district. The ex-Simi Valley mayor and real estate broker also received substantial amounts from real estate interests, traditionally among his leading financial backers.

Gallegly spent $376,293 in the 1988 GOP primary to crush a challenge by Sang Korman, a wealthy Korean-American real estate developer. Korman won only 14% of the vote despite spending $391,591, much of it his own money. Gallegly coasted to a second-term general election victory.

Korman, who moved from Newbury Park to Calabasas after the election, said last week that he may oppose Gallegly again in the 1990 GOP primary even though he contributed $900 to Gallegly’s general election campaign last fall. “I’m still considering,” Korman said. Lagomarsino reported raising $24,417, or 18% of his total, from PACs. He, too, was handsomely supported by defense contractors and their employee associations.

Close Election

A 14-year veteran of the House, Lagomarsino faced his stiffest challenge in the 19th District last year when state Sen. Gary K. Hart (D-Santa Barbara) came within 3,993 votes of victory. Hart has indicated that he may run again next year.

“I’ve heard him say he has not decided one way or another,” Hart aide Joe Caves said this week. “The amount of money Lagomarsino has raised thus far would be a drop in the bucket” if there is a rematch.

The Lagomarsino-Hart contest was the second most expensive House race in the nation in 1988. Hart spent $1.55 million; Lagomarsino, $1.47 million.

In contrast, Beilenson, one of the few members of Congress who refuses to accept PAC money, spent only $8,368 last fall in winning 63.5% of the 23rd District vote. His opponent, Republican Jim Salomon of Beverly Hills, spent $98,008.

Salomon, an international trade consultant, says that he will run again in 1990. He has raised $4,000 to $5,000 and recruited 36 campaign vice chairmen, each committed to raising $5,000, he said. His stated fund-raising goal is an admittedly ambitious $750,000.

“I always thought it would be a steppingstone,” Salomon said of his first campaign, which failed to excite much enthusiasm. “This time, I actually plan to win.”

Huge Carry-Over

Moorhead reported that he carried $622,634 over into 1989 from previous years--nearly double the $343,115 that his six election opponents have spent against him in the past decade.

A 16-year veteran, Moorhead reported raising $29,423 this year--all but $2,410 of which was interest on his campaign accounts.

Noting that the state’s congressional districts will be reapportioned after the 1990 census, he said: “No one knows that kind of district they’ll end up with. I would hate to be put under pressure to go out and raise a large amount of money” quickly if he winds up with tough new competition.

Moorhead’s lack of serious opposition--he has won 74% or more of the vote each election since 1982--has allowed him to use his campaign funds for expenses not directly related to electioneering.

In the past six months, he reported spending $3,000 for three plane tickets for his wife; $2,158 for an inauguration reception catered by a Maryland firm for Republican constituents and $417 for his dues to the State Bar of California. He reported donating $1,000 to the Crippled Childrens Society in Glendale.

Cites Political Uses

In each case, he said there were political benefits: the tickets allowed his wife to join him for California campaign events; the party was for Republican activists from his 22nd District and Bar membership is “for political purposes” rather than legal purposes.

Under a section of the federal election law, Moorhead, 67, would be able to keep the money in his campaign fund when he leaves Congress. The controversial “grandfather clause” allows House members who were in office before 1980 to convert leftover campaign funds for personal use upon retirement.

But Moorhead, who was first elected in 1972, said: “I have no intention of keeping any of it. My reputation is more valuable to me than the money.” He said he anticipates donating the balance to the Republican Party or GOP candidates in Southern California and elsewhere.