ELECTIONS / STATE LEGISLATURE : Political Novice Takes Fund-Raising Lead

Political novice Alan Guggenheim leaped to a 7-1 fund-raising advantage over veteran campaigners Nao Takasugi and Madge Schaefer in the 37th Assembly District’s Republican primary race, according to financial documents released Tuesday.

“It shows we have the best campaign, the best campaign manager, and that we’re on the winning track,” said Guggenheim, who reported $54,540 in contributions, including a $40,000 loan to himself. The 37th Assembly District includes Thousand Oaks, Moorpark, Camarillo, Oxnard and Port Hueneme.

Meanwhile, Republican state Senate candidate Marian W. La Follette loaned her campaign $50,000 to close the fund-raising gap with her chief opponent, Assemblywoman Cathie Wright (R-Simi Valley).

So far, La Follette has $94,000 in campaign cash, compared with Wright’s $134,000, campaign financial records show. La Follette said she expects to raise about $300,000 to $400,000, while Wright’s campaign manager said the Simi Valley assemblywoman is prepared to raise twice that if necessary to win the 19th state Senate District that stretches from Northridge to Oxnard.

The campaign financial records filed with elections officials cover contributions received by candidates from Jan. 1 to March 17. The records offer the first indication of which candidates will be able to raise enough money to deliver their message to voters through direct mailings or political advertisements.

In the 35th Assembly race, Guggenheim’s campaign contributions mostly came from outside Ventura County. His donations included $5,500 from businesses in Orange County, $5,000 from the socially conservative Family Political Action Committee in Sacramento and $5,000 from the Gun Owners of California.

Former Ventura County Supervisor Schaefer quickly pounced on the issue of outside influence. “He only raised $600 in Ventura County,” Schaefer said. “I think the numbers speak for themselves.”

John Davies, campaign manager for Oxnard Mayor Takasugi, said Guggenheim’s early fund raising was meaningless compared to Takasugi’s ability to raise money. “Guggenheim doesn’t have any local support at all,” Davies said. “Anybody can write himself a check.”

But Guggenheim adviser Steve Frank said Guggenheim’s personal loan is a measure of his commitment. “Alan is the guy to beat in the race,” Frank said. “The fact that he’s willing to put down $40,000 and raise twice as much as Nao and Madge says something.”

Guggenheim, an international finance consultant in Newbury Park, said his support came from people who are fed up with status quo politicians such as Takasugi and Schaefer.

As of March 17, Takasugi raised $6,594 and Schaefer brought in $8,044 in contributions. Camarillo podiatrist Jon Williams, another newcomer to politics, raised $1,427 and loaned himself $25,000. Ronald E. De Blauw, an Oxnard trucking company owner, raised $1,960.

GOP candidates Michael D. Berger and Kenneth (Skip) Roberts had no reports filed with county election officials and could not be reached for comment.

Roz McGrath, the lone Democrat in the race, reported raising $2,125.

In the 19th state Senate race, La Follette, Wright and Fillmore City Councilman Roger Campbell are competing in the June 2 GOP primary.

La Follette, an independently wealthy Thousand Oaks resident, said she will loan her campaign more money if the $50,000 is not enough to beat Wright. “I’m in this race to stay, and I’m determined to win,” she said.

Wright campaign manager John Theiss said Wright will not be outspent. “We’ll be prepared to spend $1 million if need be. But we think it will be closer to $500,000.”

Campbell, who wants to raise no more than $150,000, criticized both of his opponents for trying to outspend each other. He said both Wright and La Follette, a former assemblywoman, would be courting special interest groups in Sacramento. So far, Campbell has raised $5,359.

“It’s a shame that money plays such a big part in this,” he said. “It makes it difficult for the man on the street to get his message across.”

Theiss defended Wright’s numerous contributions from PACs and developers that included $1,000 or more from the California Building Industry Assn., the Dale Poe Development Corp. and the California Beer Wine Wholesalers Assn.

“It’s not a matter of the old boy network,” Theiss said. He said Wright is attracting the contributions because she is widely recognized from her 12 years in the Assembly.

Meanwhile, Assemblywoman Paula Boland (R-Granada Hills) has raised $26,369 in her reelection bid for the 38th Assembly District, which includes parts of the western San Fernando Valley as well as Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks, Fillmore and Piru in Ventura County.

Boland will face one of two Democrats vying for their party’s nomination. Democrat James Blatt, a Northridge attorney, said he has raised about $10,000. “We’re off to a good start,” Blatt said. Howard Cohen, an unemployed North Hills resident, said he has raised about $4,000, including $380 of his own money. “I don’t think money wins all the races,” he said.

In the 35th Assembly District, incumbent Jack O’Connell (D-Carpinteria), who is running unopposed in his party’s primary, has built up a war chest of $118,205. The 35th District includes Ojai, Ventura, Santa Paula and part of Santa Barbara County.

On the Republican side, Alan O. (Lanny) Ebenstein is the top fund-raiser so far with only $1,688. His opponents, financial adviser Paul Pillmore and Santa Barbara resident Aaron Grey, have raised less than the $1,000 that triggers the requirement for filing financial statements with elections officials.