COUNTYWIDE : Candidates Report on Fund Raising

Candidate Peter von Elten had the largest bankroll in a field of five Republicans seeking the nomination to replace retiring Assemblyman Dennis Brown in the 58th Assembly District, according to financial-disclosure statements filed Thursday.

Von Elten’s campaign showed a total of $65,197 raised so far. Huntington Beach Mayor Thomas J. Mays was the only other candidate who reported any money raised since Brown’s surprise announcement March 5 that he would not seek reelection.

Mays campaign had about $30,000, with $22,000 of that transferred from his mayoral campaign account.

The 58th Assembly District straddles the boundary between Los Angeles and Orange counties and includes Huntington Beach, Seal Beach and Long Beach.

The other Republican candidates are Seymour Alban, a physician from Long Beach, and Long Beach City Council members Jan Hall and Jeffrey A. Kellogg.

Democratic candidate Joel R. Bishop said Thursday that he has decided to drop out of the race. One other Democrat remains, Luanne W. Pryor, a public relations consultant from Long Beach. And there is one Libertarian candidate, Scott Stier of Long Beach.

In other campaigns, Republican Assembly candidate Phyllis Badham reported that she has $4,207 in cash after raising $16,129 to challenge incumbent Assemblyman Gil Ferguson (R-Newport Beach) in the 70th Assembly District. Ferguson’s office declined to provide his report.

In the Orange County district attorney’s race, incumbent Michael R. Capizzi reported that he has raised $70,479. The statements from the other district attorney candidates were not available. The other candidates are James G. Enright, Orange County’s chief deputy district attorney, Deputy Dist. Atty. Thomas Avdeef and Assistant Dist. Atty. Edgar A. Freeman.

In the sheriff’s race, incumbent Brad Gates reported that he has raised a total of $95,585. He is being challenged by retired Fullerton police captain Don Bankhead, whose campaign report was not available.