Incumbents Raise $30 Million in Non-Election Year

Incumbent legislators and statewide elected officials collected more than $30 million in campaign contributions in 1991 even though for most of them it was not an election year, according to figures released Tuesday by Secretary of State March Fong Eu.

The sizable total shows the power of incumbency in attracting money from a wide variety of sources, including corporations, professional groups and unions with large stakes in bills before the Legislature or regulations being considered by state agencies.

Surprisingly, the elected officials spent almost as much as they received--$27,564,000 in expenses compared to $30,263,000 in contributions.

Still, counting cash carried over from previous years, that left incumbents with $13 million and gave them a distinct financial edge against outsiders in a year when redistricting means heightened competitiveness in many legislative contests.

Although 1991 was a good year for incumbent campaign committees, the recession, as well as uncertainty about officeholders’ political futures because of redistricting, may have slowed the pace of fund raising.

The total of more than $30 million given to incumbents last year represents a drop of 16% from 1987, a comparable year in the state’s four-year election cycle. In that year, incumbent state officials collected $36.1 million, according to figures compiled by the secretary of state’s office.

As expected, the No. 1 fund-raiser among state officials was Gov. Pete Wilson, who does not face reelection until 1994.

The Republican governor collected $2.6 million in 1991.

His top contributor was Sacramento housing consultant Ward Connerly, who personally contributed $10,000 to Wilson’s campaign committee and whose firm donated another $20,000. Recently, Wilson appointed Connerly to his Council on Competitiveness.

“I’m in for the long haul with the guy, and I believe in him very strongly,” said Connerly, a longtime friend who worked for Wilson when the future governor served in the state Assembly two decades ago.

The California Ambulance Assn. donated $25,000 to the governor’s committee--the highest single contribution of the $60,500 that the organization of private ambulance operators donated to state officeholders last year.

The ambulance group currently is pushing a bill to raise the rates that Medi-Cal, the state health care program for the poor, pays for ambulance services.

“The biggest issue facing the California Ambulance Assn. today is reimbursement for services,” said the organization’s executive director, Charles S. Clark. Medi-Cal pays operators $68 for transporting a patient, compared to $450 or more from private insurers, Clark said.

“It doesn’t take a brain surgeon to realize (the ambulance operators) are losing money for 68 bucks,” he said.

Legislative leaders of both parties also received large chunks of cash, with much of it destined to be transferred to legislative allies in tough election campaigns.

Assembly Speaker Willie Brown (D-San Francisco) was second only to Wilson in 1991 fund raising, collecting $1.9 million. Senate President Pro Tem David A. Roberti (D-Los Angeles) received $835,000.

Brown’s top contributor was the California Trial Lawyers Assn. Brown is a trial lawyer.

The lawyers’ group was also the biggest contributor to state elected officials generally--donating $278,500, almost all of it to incumbent legislators.

The trial lawyers have beaten back proposals, supported by the insurance industry and some consumer groups, to create no-fault auto insurance in California. The lawyers stand to lose client fees if a no-fault system is adopted.

The Speaker received $38,980 from the lawyers.

The group also was the top contributor to Roberti, who received $26,000 from the association’s political committee. The Los Angeles Democrat is an attorney, but, unlike Brown, he has not practiced law while in office.

The California Medical Assn. was the second largest contributor to political campaigns last year, giving $272,000 to incumbents.

Recently the doctors’ group has made universal health insurance its top legislative priority.

This year the association is sponsoring legislation that would eventually require employers to provide health insurance to all full-time employees.

Brown and Senate Republican Leader Ken Maddy of Fresno are carrying the proposal for the doctors. In 1991, the California Medical Assn.’s political action committee contributed $34,500 to Brown and $9,500 to Maddy. In all, Maddy received $433,000.

The Republican Party, at both the state and national levels, played a significant role in raising money and helping GOP legislators in special elections, the report showed. The state GOP donated $537,000 and the national party gave $149,000, practically all of it in special elections. By contrast, according to the report, the state Democratic Party contributed just $104,000 to lawmakers.

Political Contributors, Recipients

A look at interest groups that gave the most and state legislators and statewide elected officials who took in the most in political contributions in California in 1991, according to reports compiled by Secretary of State March Fong Eu.

CONTRIBUTORS California Trial Lawyers: $278,501 California Medical Assn.: $271,874 California Grocers Assn.: $236,392 Arco: $214,300 California Optometric Assn.: $192,821 California Dental Assn.: $177,412 Philip Morris USA: $176,353 Pacific Telesis: $167,660 Southern California Edison Employees: $152,469 California Teachers Assn.: $150,180 NOTE: List of top contributors excludes the California Republican Party, which forwarded the money it collected to GOP candidates. Officeholders whose names are followed by * were candidates in elections in 1991.

SOURCE: California secretary of state

RECIPIENTS Gov. Pete Wilson: $2,635,409 Assembly Speaker Willie Brown (D-San Francisco): $1,910,736 Sen. Art Torres (D-Los Angeles)*: $1,279,569 Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi: $1,253,627 Assemblyman Tom Hayden (D-Santa Monica): $1,035,380 Treasurer Kathleen Brown: $984,773 Sen. Tim Leslie (R-Auburn)*: $842,543 Sen. President David A. Roberti (D-Los Angeles): $835,239 Assemblyman Richard E. Floyd (D-Carson): $773,863 Assemblyman B. T. Collins,* (R-Carmichael): $557,938