Candidates Paying High Cost of Losing

South Bay primary election candidates who dipped into their own pocketbooks may have little hope of recouping their investments. Those who chipped in the most ended up losing in Tuesday’s primaries.

Republican Ron Florance, running for the 36th Congressional District nomination to face Rep. Jane Harman (D-Marina del Rey) in November, had lent his campaign $180,000 by late May. But he lost to Rancho Palos Verdes Councilwoman Susan Brooks.

In the 28th State Senate District, Venice attorney Mike Sidley backed his campaign with a $35,000 loan as well as a $50,000 loan from his father, Milton Sidley. But he came in third, behind incumbent Ralph C. Dills (D-El Segundo) and Torrance Councilman George Nakano.

And in the 54th Assembly District, Rolling Hills Estates restaurateur Jeff Earle threw in $25,000 and his mother lent his campaign $50,000. But he lost to Steve Kuykendall, who will go on to face Assemblywoman Betty Karnette.