ELECTIONS CAMPAIGN SPENDING : Congressmen Outdistance Challengers in Raising, Spending Campaign Funds

With one exception, San Fernando Valley congressmen have raised dozens of times more campaign funds than their challengers, according to recent reports, further bolstering their reelection prospects despite the much-touted anti-incumbent mood sweeping the nation.

The disparity in funds available for lawmakers to pay for mass mailings, campaign staff, posters and billboards is generally overwhelming. Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-Simi Valley), for instance, has raised $324,368 this year and has $211,798 on hand; his Democratic opponent, Richard D. Freiman of Agoura, reports raising $9,035.

Most of the incumbents represent districts considered so safe and face so little active opposition that they have dipped into their treasuries for noncampaign spending, such as travel, staff meals, charitable donations and contributions to other candidates. Some, such as Reps. Carlos J. Moorhead (R-Glendale) and Henry A. Waxman (D-Los Angeles), have spent only a fraction of their large stockpile of funds.

The fund-raising and spending patterns are contained in campaign reports for the Nov. 6 election and cover campaign activity through Sept. 30.

The sole exception to the pattern is the 23rd District, where Republican nominee Jim Salomon of Beverly Hills has raised $148,111 this year, exceeding the $91,870 taken in by veteran Rep. Anthony C. Beilenson (D-Los Angeles). Nevertheless, Beilenson, who easily defeated Salomon in 1988 despite being outspent, is widely expected to win.

Overall, the seven Valley area incumbents--four Republicans and three Democrats--have raised $1.26 million since Jan. 1, an average of $180,993 per lawmaker, the records show. The challengers have garnered a cumulative $197,652. Salomon alone accounts for three-quarters of that total.

The figures for cash available are even more lopsided. No incumbent has less than $144,000 on hand; the opponents have an average of about $28,000. Moreover, four of the challengers reported that they had less than $1,000 available.

The incumbents--other than Beilenson--received half their money, $633,376, from special-interest political action committees. Beilenson does not accept PAC contributions. Five of the challengers reported receiving no PAC money; the other two received a total of $6,975.

The Valley experience mirrors the national picture. Earlier this month, Common Cause, the political reform group, reported that only 23 of the 405 House members seeking reelection face opponents who had raised even half of what the incumbents could spend. Of the rest, 78 have no major party opposition and 218 have opponents who raised less than $25,000 as of Sept. 30.

In the Valley, Moorhead has raised $164,871 in 1990, spent $169,404 and has $747,679 on hand, including funds from previous years. He took in $119,650 in PAC contributions, 73% of his total.

Moorhead’s Democratic opponent in the 22nd District, David Bayer of Burbank, has raised $27,904, spent $30,594 and has $5,809 available. His campaign also has debts of $8,500.

Waxman has raised $86,710 this year, spent $41,048 and has $488,876 on hand. Waxman, who chairs the Energy and Commerce Committee’s health and environment subcommittee, received $79,600 from PACs, or 92% of his total.

The Republican nominee in the 24th District, John N. Cowles of Los Angeles, raised $9,631, spent $10,246 and has $884 in cash. Cowles has debts of $1,500.

Rep. Howard L. Berman (D-Panorama City) has raised $84,685, spent $53,834 and retains $239,067 in his campaign committee. Berman received $62,950 in PAC funds, 74% of his total receipts.

No campaign report through Sept. 30 for Berman’s 26th District opponent, Republican Roy Dahlson of Van Nuys, was available this week. In his last available report, Dahlson said he had spent $11,819 and had $513 as of June 16.

Gallegly, who thwarted a well-financed June primary challenge in his 21st District, reported spending $296,293 this year. He received $74,987 from PACS, 23% of his total. Freiman’s spending total was $7,211.

Two Republican lawmakers who represent parts of the Antelope Valley have maintained similar fund-raising advantages over their respective opponents, according to the campaign reports.

Rep. William M. Thomas (R-Bakersfield), whose 20th District includes Lancaster, has raised $204,536, spent $170,848 and has $206,383 available. Thomas received $108,450 from PACs, 53% of his total. His Democratic opponent, Michael Thomas of Grover City, reported raising less than $2,000; he had $15 on hand and was $1,305 in debt.

Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-Redlands), whose 35th District includes part of Palmdale, has raised $309,916, spent $96,486 and retains $334,566. Lewis, who sits on the House Appropriations Committee and is chairman of the Republican Conference, received $187,739 in PAC contributions, 60% of his total.

No report through Sept. 30 was available this week for Democratic nominee Barry Norton of Montclair. Norton disclosed that he had raised $2,266 and spent $2,362 as of mid-July, his last report on file.