ANAHEIM : Council Candidates Report Contributions

Four City Council candidates have raised more than $10,000 for their campaigns, statements filed recently with the city clerk show.

Sharon Ericson, who is president of the largest city employee union and an office supervisor in the Parks and Recreation Department, reported raising $38,095 for her campaign treasury.

Lou Lopez, an Anaheim police officer and a member of the Anaheim City School District and Anaheim Union High School District boards of education, reported $15,143.

Bob Zemel, a mortgage broker who has run twice before for the council, has raised $32,024.

Keith Olesen, a computer hardware salesman who ran in 1992, has raised $14,610, his statement shows.

Other candidates who filed reports are: Leonard Lahtinen, a high school teacher and a member of the North Orange County Community College District board, who reported $6,420; and Paul Bostwick, the president of a mobile home supply company and a 1988 candidate, who has loaned himself $5,000.

The statements reflect money raised in 1993 and details of all contributions between July 1 and Dec. 31.

The candidates are seeking at least two and possibly three seats in November’s council election. The seats of Councilmen Irv Pickler, Fred Hunter and Bob D. Simpson will be open. Pickler and Hunter are prohibited by term limits from seeking reelection. Simpson has said he will not run again for the council but may oppose Mayor Tom Daly in the mayoral race.

If Daly were to lose the mayoral race, he would still have two years left in a council term he won in 1992, and that would eliminate one of the open seats. If he is reelected mayor, all three seats would be available. Anaheim has had five City Council members, with one elected by the voters to be mayor. But beginning this year, the mayor will be elected from among city residents.

Ericson’s largest benefactor thus far is her husband, Robert D. Ericson, a Los Angeles County firefighter, who has loaned her campaign $20,000. Her largest contribution was from Hunter, who gave her $1,000.

Lopez has received $1,750 each from business partners Frank Elfend, a developer consultant, and Carmen Morinello, an attorney, who frequently represent clients before the council. He has also received $1,625 from William Taormina, president of the city’s trash hauler, $1,250 from the city’s firefighters union, $1,000 each from the Los Angeles Rams and billboard company Regency Outdoor, and $750 from the Anaheim police officers union.

Zemel has received $1,000 each from the firefighters, the Rams, Regency Outdoor and investor Tushar Patel. He has also received $600 from Taormina.

Olesen raised no money during the last six months of 1993, his statement shows.

Lahtinen has loaned his campaign $4,000, and the rest of his money has come from contributions of $200 or less.