IRVINE : 3 Candidates Report Fund-Raising Results

Three candidates for City Council and mayor each have raised more than $1,000 so far in their campaigns for the Nov. 3 election, campaign expense reports show.

The state-required disclosure reports, which were due Friday for contributions from Jan. 1 through June 30, must show amounts received or spent for any candidate raising $1,000 or more.

City Council candidate Christopher B. Mears tops the fund-raising effort so far. The Irvine attorney reported raising $6,347 as of June 30, mostly through individual contributions from fellow Orange County attorneys. He reported spending $3,500 of that money for literature, postage and fund-raising parties. Mears said Monday that he hopes to raise between $40,000 and $50,000 in the race, which has not been an unusual amount in recent successful council campaigns.

Since June 30, he said, he has raised about $8,000 more, for a total of $14,000.

Councilwoman Paula Werner had raised $2,374 in her reelection bid as of June 30. She added that amount to $1,583 left over from her last campaign. Werner raised the money through a fund-raising party and said she hopes to raise a total of $25,000, about what she spent in her first bid for office in 1988.

The only other potential candidate to raise more than $1,000 was Councilman Barry J. Hammond, who is raising money for a possible bid for mayor. Hammond said Monday that he might change his mind about running. The economy has hurt his consulting business, he said, so he is reconsidering taking on additional responsibilities.

He reported raising $1,111 as of June 30, mostly in individual contributions under $100. Monday, he said he has raised about $2,000 more since the June 30 reporting period.

The campaign contribution reports due last week are the first required for the November City Council election, in which voters will choose two council members and a mayor. The disclosure laws were put in place so voters could see from whom candidates were receiving large contributions before casting ballots.

Anyone donating more than $99 to a candidate must be listed on the disclosure forms. Irvine city law prohibits individuals and groups from donating more than $180 to each campaign.