Freebies Are Few Now for Supervisors : Reform: Financial statements from board members show dramatic drop in number of gifts as the result of a tough new county ordinance.

Orange County supervisors ate fewer free meals, played much less golf and accepted far fewer tokens of appreciation after the county adopted its strict gift ordinance last June, according to financial statements filed Friday.

The statements, which traditionally have provided a curious snapshot of off-stage political influence peddling, were much abbreviated this year. No tickets to the Rams or Angels. No bottles of champagne.

And noticeably absent were the names of the high-powered lobbyists whose annual displays of generosity used to fill pages of gift lists in years past.

Board of Supervisors Chairman Thomas F. Riley accepted more in meals and gifts--$1,595.32--than any of his colleagues, yet all but $301 worth were amassed before the county’s gift restrictions took effect.

Of the other supervisors, Harriett M. Wieder reported a total of $640 in gifts, with $500 accepted before the gift law; Gaddi H. Vasquez, $529 in gifts and $1,200 in honorariums for college commencement speeches (of those totals, $138 in gifts and all of the speech fees were accepted before the new ordinance); William G. Steiner, $50, all accepted prior to the new law; and Roger R. Stanton reported no gifts for the entire year.

With only limited exceptions, Orange County’s gift ordinance bans all gifts from companies or individuals that have had business before the county in the past year or have attempted to influence a county decision during that time.

The law provides for criminal misdemeanor penalties for violations by either public officials or gift givers.

The law is the legacy of former Supervisor Don R. Roth, who was convicted on state ethics violations last year. He failed to report thousands of dollars in gifts of home landscaping, meals and other favors from those who did business with the county.

In Riley’s case, at least half of the amount accepted after the law took effect came while he was hospitalized late last year with a foot ailment.

“I got a few flowers and some things while I was in the hospital,” Riley said. “I don’t see any problems. I wouldn’t have accepted them if I did.”

Shirley Grindle, a local political reform activist who helped write the new law, said the supervisors’ gift statements reflect a “dramatic change in political lifestyles.”

“I would be interested in knowing if they are losing any weight,” Grindle said. “Nothing can stop them from going to dinner, but these days they pretty much have to pick up their own tabs. I would imagine you’re seeing some slimmer and trimmer figures up on the fifth-floor” of the Hall of Administration.

The apparent reform movement seems to have spread to Anaheim, where city officials and City Council members in past years routinely accepted thousands of dollars in free tickets to Disneyland. Last year, relatively few gifts from the theme park or other sources were accepted.

One notable exception, however, was Public Utility General Manager Edward K. Aghjayan. He accepted 14 golf outings worth $1,010. Half the rounds were played during weekday hours.

He said the rounds, which were generally paid for by investment bankers and electrical consultants, were “all business-related” and many occurred during business conferences.

“It’s an opportunity for them to make a pitch or introduce themselves,” he said. “I’d rather meet with them on a golf course than in some office where they’re pointing to a blackboard.”

Since all contracts are competitively bid in the city, he said he did not think his golfing partners were buying any undo influence.

“They know they’re not going to buy you for $50,” said Aghjayan, who plays to a 16 handicap. “I’m not giving them any favoritism.”

Times Staff Writer Brian Ray Ballou contributed to this story