ELECTIONS 38th ASSEMBLY DISTRICT : Boland’s Spending Is More Than Double That of Allert

Republican Assembly candidate Paula Boland has spent more than twice as much as Democrat Irene Allert since July 1 in their race to replace retiring Assemblywoman Marian La Follette (R-Northridge), according to campaign finance reports released Friday.

Boland, a real estate broker who lives in Porter Ranch, pumped $131,721 into her campaign in the past four months, while Allert, an educational consultant from Kagel Canyon, spent $55,334, the reports showed.

But with just 11 days to go until the Nov. 6 election, both candidates reported hefty amounts of cash on hand for last-minute mailers and phone calls to voters. There was $30,928 in Boland’s war chest, and $20,099 in Allert’s.

The two women are competing for the 38th Assembly District seat being vacated by La Follette. The district arcs across the San Fernando Valley from Hidden Hills in the west to Sunland in the east.

Besides spending more, Boland raised almost twice as much as Allert since July 1. Boland banked $138,498 to Allert’s $71,508.

Boland said her commanding fund-raising lead means “people think that I’m going to make a good legislator.” But Allert said she has raised enough money to wage “a viable, a formidable campaign.”

In the most recent reporting period--Oct. 1-20--Boland received $36,087 and spent $59,768, her report showed.

Boland, a conservative with long involvement in local GOP and small-business circles, received thousands of dollars from banks, oil companies, real estate developers and other business interests that have been the financial backbone of her campaign.

Among her donations was $500 from Ray Watt, one of California’s largest real estate developers, and $500 from Nevada-based Howard Hughes Properties.

Allert, who describes herself as liberal on social issues and conservative on fiscal issues, received $27,960 and spent $37,120 during the same period.

She received heavy financial support from women’s groups and labor unions, particularly those representing teachers. Allert, a former junior high school teacher, is an advocate of abortion rights, while Boland opposes them.

The California chapter of the National Organization for Women gave Allert $2,500 and the United Teachers of Los Angeles gave her $2,000.

Allert said Boland’s heavy reliance on money from special-interest groups means Boland, if elected, will be beholden to them.

“Her first concern can’t be for the people of the 38th District. Her first concern is the special interests who contributed to her campaign,” said Allert.

Boland denied she will be indebted to special interests. She said such contributions indicate only that business people have “professional confidence in my candidacy.”

Boland charged that Allert “owes the unions . . . They bought and paid for her whole campaign.”

Allert said her donations from women’s groups and teachers unions “represent the interests of the district,” which she said favors abortion rights and education issues.

In other state legislative races in the Valley, incumbents far outstripped their challengers in fund raising and available cash--with one notable exception.

Republican Gary Passi, owner of a health spa, said he loaned $100,000 of his own money to his campaign against Assemblyman Terry B. Friedman (D-Los Angeles).

Passi, who lost a 1988 Assembly race in another district, said he plans to spend the money on radio ads in the campaign’s final days. Friedman reported $47,503 in cash on hand.

Assemblyman Tom Bane (D-Tarzana) reported $334,756 in cash available for the election, while his GOP challenger, Helen Gabriel, had $7,653. Sen. Alan Robbins (D-Tarzana) had $171,787 cash on hand, while his Republican opponent, David Podegracz, had zero.

Assemblyman Richard Katz (D-Sylmar) reported $108,183 in available cash. His GOP challenger, Sam Ceravolo, had none. Assemblywoman Cathie Wright (R-Simi Valley) said she had $28,649 on hand. The Democrat opposing her, Dennis Petrie, could not be reached for comment.

Assemblyman Burt Margolin (D-Los Angeles) had $13,661 in his campaign kitty. His GOP opponent, Elizabeth Michael, had $1,056.