Beilenson Challenger Brings in the Big Guns : Elections: In his bid to crack the strongly Democratic district, Jim Salomon gets help from Reagan. But don’t label him a ‘lock-step Republican.’

The Westside and San Fernando Valley congressional district of Rep. Anthony C. Beilenson is generally liberal, Jewish and Democratic--tough turf if you’re a Republican challenger.

But those political facts of life did not deter the district’s most prominent Republican, a fellow from Bel-Air named Ronald Reagan, from venturing back into the political arena on behalf of GOP congressional candidate Jim Salomon.

At a private fund-raising reception Thursday in Century City, the former President endorsed Salomon, a young Beverly Hills trade consultant who is waging his second uphill battle against Beilenson, a seven-term Democratic lawmaker.

The appearance of the Great Rainmaker himself at a closed-door, $1,000-per-person gathering in the posh J.W. Marriott Hotel provided a much-needed $40,000 shot in the arm to the Salomon campaign, which had been running a deficit.

Reagan spokesman Mark Weinberg said the former chief executive spoke briefly of “the importance of electing people like Jim Salomon to Congress” and expressed the hope that Salomon “becomes his congressman.” The former President asked the select group of contributors to continue their efforts on Salomon’s behalf.

The exclusive event served notice that Reagan intends to play a role in the contest. Salomon said Reagan also has offered to appear in his campaign commercials on cable television.

But the association with Reagan could prove a mixed blessing for Salomon, who has taken pains not to mention in campaign signs and billboards that he’s a Republican running in Democratic territory.

The numbers tell why: Beilenson crushed Salomon’s first challenge in 1988 by a 2-1 margin. Voters in the 23rd Congressional District also supported Democrat Michael S. Dukakis over George Bush in the 1988 presidential race. (They did, however, abandon their traditional Democratic allegiance in the 1984 Reagan landslide over Walter F. Mondale.)

Although Salomon denies it, insiders in both parties suggest that the challenger’s goal this year is to improve on his 1988 showing and build recognition with an eye on 1992, when congressional districts will have been redrawn to reflect the recent census.

It is thought very likely that the highly politicized redistricting process will not work to the benefit of Beilenson, whose independence has often irritated some of his influential Democratic colleagues--particularly Reps. Howard L. Berman of Panorama City and Henry A. Waxman of Los Angeles, who are expected to play a leading role in drawing the new district lines.

Under this scenario, some of the liberal Westside precincts that are Beilenson’s home base would be stripped away from his district, replaced by more Republican and conservative precincts in the corners of the Valley.

But in 1990, it’s still a Democratic district, and Salomon acknowledged in an interview that he has to present his Republican support “very carefully--so it doesn’t give some people the impression I’m a lock-step Republican.”

In his campaign, Salomon has tried to portray himself as a new breed--a moderate on some social issues, including abortion rights, political reform and environmental protection, and a conservative on others, such as crime and drugs.

Beilenson’s campaign consultant, Craig Miller, said Reagan’s involvement raises the question: “Who is Jim Salomon? Is he progressive and forward-thinking or does he embrace the ultraconservative politics of Ronald Reagan?”

Salomon said he wants to be judged solely on the basis of his positions on issues, not by political party labels. He said Reagan did not require a litmus test on issues for his support. And Salomon pointedly noted he supports a woman’s right to an abortion, which Reagan opposes.

Beilenson was on vacation in Maine and could not be reached for comment, but Miller expressed confidence that Reagan will have no impact on the outcome of the congressional race this November. “Ronald Reagan did not have long coattails when he was in office, and he will have no coattails out of office,” Miller said.

While the impact of Reagan at the polls remains to be seen, the former President’s appearance clearly helped Salomon in one respect--raising money.

Although he raised and spent far more than Beilenson in the past year and a half, Salomon’s campaign treasury was all but empty at the end of June.

The most recent campaign reports filed with the Federal Election Commission show the 34-year-old candidate’s campaign had just $5,754 in cash on hand and had $20,061 in debts on June 30.

In the first half of this year, Salomon raised $69,844 and spent $147,683 on campaign consultants, computer programs, telephone bills, fund-raising and printing. He said the campaign has developed an extensive database of all registered voters in the district and is operating phone banks to shore up Republican support, before turning its attention to contacting independents and Democrats.

“We have a tough 2 1/2 months ahead of us,” Salomon said.

But he said Reagan’s appearance will lend the campaign credibility by suggesting to potential contributors that the race is viable despite the odds. He noted that he has recruited nearly 300 campaign co-chairs who have pledged to assist in his fund-raising. Salomon’s largest campaign contribution, $4,950, came from the National Rifle Assn. He also received $2,500 from Arco’s political action committee.

By contrast, Beilenson had $72,637 in the bank at the end of June. Faced with Salomon’s aggressive fund-raising efforts, the 57-year-old lawmaker last year abandoned his usual practice of not raising campaign funds in non-election years.

Beilenson collected $94,929 in 1989. His largest contribution last year came from Walt Disney Co. President Frank G. Wells, who gave $2,000. The veteran lawmaker is the only member of Congress from California who does not accept contributions from political action committees.

In the first half of this year, Beilenson held no fund-raisers and received just $3,235. However, a major fund-raising event is planned for early October in Beverly Hills. Beilenson spent $9,283 in the first six months of the year.

Miller said Beilenson expects to be outspent in the race, but argues that the lawmaker’s long record as a state assemblyman, senator and then as a congressman will provide “durable support that money simply can’t buy.”

In a preview of the coming campaign, Miller said Beilenson will run on his record of service and independent leadership. Like most challengers, Salomon will argue the incumbent is out of touch with his constituents. Peace and Freedom party candidate John Honigsfeld will also be on the ballot.

23RD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

Westside and San Fernando Valley district includes Malibu, Topanga, Pacific Palisades, Brentwood, Westwood, Beverly Hills, Bel-Air, Century City, Palms, Tarzana, Woodland Hills, Canoga Park, Reseda, and Encino.

VOTER REGISTRATION

Party Registered Percent Democrats 156,467 53.7% Republicans 105,043 36.1 Independents 24,525 8.4 Other (American Independent, Peace and Freedom, Liber- tarian, miscellaneous) 5,195 1.8 Total 291,230

VOTING HISTORY Congress, November, 1988

Candidate Votes Percent Rep. Anthony C. Beilenson (D) 147,858 63.5% Jim Salomon (R) 77,184 33.1 John Vernon (Lib) 4,305 1.9 John Honigsfeld (P&F;) 3,316 1.4 President, November, 1988 Michael Dukakis (D) 138,264 56% George Bush (R) 106,610 43 President, November, 1984 Ronald Reagan (R) 129,010 53% Walter Mondale (D) 113,020 46