ELECTIONS CAMPAIGN SPENDING : Special-Interest Money Flows Into Races

With just days left until the June 2 primary, hundreds of thousands of dollars in special-interest contributions have flowed into local, state and federal races in Ventura County, candidates reported Thursday.

Boosted by $25,500 from doctors’ political committees, Assemblywoman Cathie Wright (R-Simi Valley) reported that she has spent $247,000, about $100,000 more than ex-legislator Marian W. La Follette in a bitter race to replace retiring state Sen. Ed Davis (R-Santa Clarita).

Statements also showed that contributions to Oxnard Mayor Nao Takasugi and Newbury Park financial consultant Alan Guggenheim far exceeded those to former county Supervisor Madge L. Schaefer for the open 37th Assembly District seat.

Physicians and real estate interests contributed heavily to Takasugi, while Guggenheim was backed heavily by the National Rifle Assn. and a Camarillo businessman who owns at least six religious radio stations and shares the candidate’s anti-abortion stance.

In one of the nation’s costliest congressional races, Michael R. Huffington, a Santa Barbara multimillionaire Republican, has spent $2.2 million of his own money to unseat longtime Rep. Robert J. Lagomarsino (R-Ventura).

And in local races, veteran county Supervisors Maggie Erickson Kildee, Susan K. Lacey and John K. Flynn easily raised more money than their nine challengers, according to statements that show contributions through May 16.

The race between Wright and La Follette--a pair of conservative Republicans who were Assembly rivals in the 1980s--is especially marked by contributions from big business and special-interest committees.

Of the $145,688 Wright received during the latest two-month reporting period, $55,000 was in contributions of $5,000 or more.

In addition to the $25,500 from two California Medical Assn. committees, Wright received $8,000 from the Phillip Morris tobacco company, $7,000 from the California Cable Television Assn., $5,000 from home builder Dale Poe, and $5,000 each from statewide real estate and insurance company political committees.

“There’s some big money in there, there’s no question,” said John Theiss, Wright’s campaign manager. “But anyone who’s known Cathie Wright for the last 12 years knows she is not beholden to anyone. When she makes a decision, it’s in the best interest of her constituents. It’s not based on who gave her money.”

Overall, Wright has raised $189,682 this year, but has spent $247,156. Because of donations accumulated through last year, she has enough cash to cover $57,000 in debt with a $21,500 cushion, Theiss said.

By comparison, La Follette, who served in the Assembly from 1980 to 1990, has raised $157,541 this year and spent $143,051. Independently wealthy, La Follette has loaned herself $50,000.

The Thousand Oaks resident has also received $10,000 from state Sen. Davis’ campaign treasury and $5,000 from a committee of Assemblyman Tom McClintock (R-Thousand Oaks). Otherwise, La Follette has had no other contribution larger than $2,500.

“They are ahead of us as far as expenditures,” La Follette said. “But I think we are doing well. The bulk of our mailing program just began hitting at the end of last week and this week.”

Fillmore Councilman Roger Campbell, a third Republican in the race, raised $13,382 and spent $12,208 this year. All three are competing in the newly redrawn 19th State Senate District, which stretches from Oxnard to the San Fernando Valley.

Among the seven candidates vying to replace McClintock in the 37th Assembly District, Takasugi has collected the most money this year, $94,108. Guggenheim has raised $88,813, followed by Camarillo podiatrist Jon Williams with $42,089 and Schaefer with $23,990.

Guggenheim reported having about $34,000 left to spend, Takasugi has $21,000, Schaefer $10,500 and Williams $5,000.

California Medical Assn. committees contributed $17,500 to Takasugi. The statewide real estate committee gave Takasugi $10,000.

Takasugi is the only Republican candidate who has endorsed a medical association-sponsored ballot initiative that would require California employers to provide basic health insurance to workers.

Takasugi’s campaign manager John Davies said the Oxnard mayor is supported by physician, law enforcement and real estate groups because they fear Guggenheim’s election.

“They don’t want another crazy up there,” Davies said. “The fanatic right wing has screwed up this state more than anything.”

Guggenheim said his support comes from groups and individuals who agree with his “pro-family, anti-tax” views. His largest single contribution since mid-March is $10,000 from Edward G. Atsinger III of Camarillo, the radio station owner. The rifle association gave $9,000.

Of the nearly $89,000 Guggenheim has raised, $40,000 is his own money.

Williams, an Army captain who served in Vietnam, raised about half of his treasury at a recent dinner at which retired Gen. William Westmoreland spoke.

In spite of her fourth-place finish, Schaefer said she should not be counted out of the race. “I think the voters will determine who’s counted out and who’s counted in,” Schaefer said. “We anticipated this. I’m just ringing doorbells.”

She said Takasugi is relying on money from political action committees in Sacramento while Guggenheim fuels his campaign with gifts from right-wing interests.

Lagomarsino’s run for a 10th term in Congress has been noteworthy because of the $2.2 million that challenger Huffington has spent of his fortune inherited from the family’s Houston oil and gas business. Huffington has also spent another $100,000 from about 70 wealthy contributors on the heavy media campaign in the 22nd Congressional District that encompasses Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties.

Lagomarsino, a millionaire in his own right, has loaned his campaign $192,000 and raised $219,000 from others.

Huffington said he needed to spend so much money to rectify the traditional imbalance that favors incumbents. But Lagomarsino said his opponent is trying to buy the seat.

In local supervisorial races, Erickson Kildee reported spending $49,904 this year, while Lacey spent $18,289 and Flynn spent $21,513. None of the supervisors’ challengers has spent more than $8,404, which was the expenditure of Flynn opponent Arlene Fraser.

Times staff writers Gary Gorman and Tina Daunt contributed to this story.