ELECTIONS CARSON : Embattled Calas Outspends Rivals : Councilwoman says most of the $50,522 has been spent to rebut criticism from a mobile home tenants group.

In an otherwise low-key election race, incumbent Carson City Councilwoman Kay Calas has spent more than double the amount of her closest challenger in her reelection bid.

Since January, Calas has spent $50,522, largely to defend her record on mobile home park issues. Homeowners Against Rent Decontrol, a lobbying group for mobile home residents, accuses Calas of not supporting its cause, criticizing the longtime incumbent for her absenteeism, her acceptance of campaign contributions from mobile home park owners and her appointments to the Planning Commission.

Calas has countered with a barrage of mailers and cable television ads stressing her votes in favor of mobile home rent control, relocation benefits for residents when a mobile home park closes and the creation of a mobile home rental review board.

Nevertheless, Connie Hathaway, chairwoman of Homeowners Against Rent Decontrol, said her group is backing only incumbent Mayor Michael I. Mitoma and Planning Commissioner Pete Fajardo. Fajardo has spent $24,975 in his campaign, second only to Calas.

There are nine candidates vying for three open seats in Tuesday’s election. One candidate on the ballot, Lourdes Tipton, recently dropped out of the race.

Carson voters will also be asked to decide whether the city’s mayor, currently appointed by the council, should be an elected position and whether the term for such a post should be two or four years.

First elected in 1976, Calas is the longest serving member on the council. She said she needed to spend the money to offset HARD’s criticism.

“It’s my last time around and I didn’t want to be beaten,” Calas said, explaining that this is her last reelection campaign.

Some candidates are calling for spending limits in City Council campaigns.

James H. Peoples, a retired Los Angeles County chief of operations who has spent $6,811 over the same period, said he would like Carson to adopt a $25,000 limit on what is raised and spent in a city election. Currently, there are no limits to what candidates can spend.

Meanwhile, Mitoma spent $9,083 in March on his reelection campaign, according to campaign finance statements for the period ending April 2.

According to the statements, Councilwoman Vera Robles DeWitt has spent $19,413. DeWitt, who is running for Congress, said she is not actively campaigning for reelection, but her name will appear on the ballot and she has not withdrawn from the race.

Of the total expenditures reported by DeWitt’s Carson campaign committee, $9,230 was a contribution to her 37th Congressional District campaign.

Real estate consultant Ralph Quinte spent $8,508; brokerage firm clerk Iragayle (Gayle) Konig and substitute teacher Carl E. Robinson Sr. have filed statements pledging not to raise or spend more than $1,000.

Retired banker Larry E. Grant’s campaign finance statements were unavailable.