Labor, Women Adding to Feinstein Funds

Democrat Dianne Feinstein is pulling in big money from organized labor, traditional party loyalists and women as she tries to become California’s first woman governor.

Together, she and her husband, Richard C. Blum, are the largest donor, having lent the campaign $3 million during the primary. And in the latest reporting period, ended Sept. 30, organized labor provided about $1 million, or roughly $1 of every $5 that Feinstein raised, campaign finance records show.

A large number of her donors have been women, but with some exceptions, the size of their checks has been modest. Few women have given more than $1,000, and many have donated $100 or less, campaign finance reports show.

“We don’t have a lot to give,” said Jane Hasler Henick, co-chair of a state political action committee of the National Women’s Political Caucus, a Feinstein supporter. “We women are writing checks for $100. If we had more, we’d write checks for more.”

One exception is Deborah Castleman, 36, an electrical engineer and public policy analyst for the RAND Corp. in Santa Monica. Castleman is not wealthy, but she is a believer--so much so that she raided her savings of $28,000 and donated it to Feinstein.

“I don’t care about money for retirement. This is more important,” Castleman said.

Castleman became a believer after she heard Feinstein speak to a gathering of the Los Angeles Women’s Campaign Fund in Beverly Hills in May, 1989. In addition to donating her own $28,000, Castleman has prodded family, friends and acquaintences to donate another $50,000.

“I very much believe in the power of role models,” she said. “They are a powerful influence. I have a lot of nieces. I want them to see that a woman can be governor.”

Feminist Beverly Hills attorney Gloria Allred also has been working hard for Feinstein, having raised $50,000 by early October. Allred expects to raise at least $40,000 more.

“Our daughters should have an opportunity to see a woman at the highest position of our state government,” Allred said, adding that Feinstein is the first candidate for whom she has sought donations.

Feinstein had raised about $10 million through Sept. 30, compared to $19.4 million for Sen. Pete Wilson. Feinstein and Wilson both received about one of every three contributions from women, according to a random Times survey of 5,000 contributions to each candidate during the most recent filing period.

Feinstein, who hopes to raise at least another $4 million by the Nov. 6 election, saw her fortunes change dramatically when a federal judge last month struck down a $1,000 limit on individual contributions.

During the four days between the judge’s ruling and Sept. 30, she raised more than $900,000. Her biggest single gift--$150,000--came from the California Highway Patrol officers political action committee.

Other six-figure donors listed in the latest report were the Los Angeles County District Council of Carpenters, which gave $110,000, and the United Food and Commercial Workers, which gave $106,000.

John Plaxco, her chief fund-raiser, said the campaign made a “conscious effort” to avoid money from the insurance industry, tobacco concerns and oil companies. Her finance reports reflect little or no money coming from these sources. Nor is there money coming from sources identifiable as being affiliated with horse racing or other gambling interests. There are relatively minor amounts from the liquor industry.

Feinstein received $5,000 from the California Real Estate political action committee. Sacramento developer Angelo Tsakopoulous, a friend of San Francisco Mayor Art Agnos, gave $22,000. Concord developer Kenneth H. Hoffman gave $100,000. Tens of thousands more dollars have come from an array of San Francisco developers, companies that contracted with the city and political allies from Feinstein’s days as mayor of San Francisco.

Several Democratic politicians are working hard for Feinstein. Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) has given the most so far, $12,000, and has raised $33,500 more, the latest report showed.

Times staff writer David Willman and researcher Norma Kaufman contributed to this story