Challenger Ups Ante in Race for City Atty.

Setting the stage for what promises to be the most expensive and aggressive campaign ever for the job of Los Angeles city attorney, challenger Ted Stein revealed Tuesday that he hascollected $547,000 in the past six months--more than twice the amount raised by incumbent James K. Hahn.

Stein, an Encino lawyer who served 2 1/2 years as Mayor Richard Riordan’s senior policy advisor, counts among his supporters many key Riordan backers, including current and former commissioners, staff members and political consultants, according to documents filed with the city Ethics Commission.

Hahn has until month’s end to unveil his contributor list, but campaign consultant Bill Carrick said Tuesday that the incumbent has collected about $225,000.

Since Stein resigned from the Riordan administration in January, he has stuffed his calendar with power meals, speaking engagements and community coffees, collecting checks one by one.

“The outpouring of support that I’ve received from throughout the city means people want change,” Stein said.

Hahn, who was elected city attorney in 1985 after serving one four-year term as city controller, could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

Carrick, however, attributed Stein’s large purse to his full-time fund-raising, and expressed confidence that Hahn can capitalize on his lengthy political career, City Hall perch and widespread name recognition to catch up before the election next spring.

Carrick scoffed when told of Stein’s campaign fund.

“I’m surprised it’s not more than that,” Carrick said. “He doesn’t have a job. He’s been out there plowing the field, working at it full time. A lot of times, candidates raise a lot of money upfront real early. . . . Eventually, you run out of people to ask.

“We’re not going to get outspent,” the consultant said. “That’s not going to happen.”

The volume of contributions lays the groundwork for a record-setting campaign in which candidates could raise as much as $2 million, political experts said.

Hahn raised $1.2 million in his first bid for city attorney in 1985, but election rules in that race allowed for transfers among political campaign funds, which is now prohibited. Opponent Lisa Specht, who is among Stein’s contributors, also raised about $1 million then.

In his last two races, Hahn spent about $300,000 each time, city records show. The 1993 challenger raised a scant $10,000.

“I don’t think there’s any question this will set a new record,” consultant Rick Taylor said.

“This will not be a campaign played by the Marquess of Queensberry rules,” said Harvey Englander--who, like Taylor, runs many local Los Angeles campaigns but is not involved in this race. “It’s going to be a mean, vicious, no-holds-barred, bare-knuckled brawl.”

Stein, 47, has been eyeing the city attorney’s office for years, although his campaign did not officially begin until Jan. 1. A former president of the powerful airport and planning commissions, he criticizes Hahn’s criminal prosecution rate and notes that the city’s liability has skyrocketed during Hahn’s tenure.

Hahn, 50, inherited the political mantle from his father, legendary county Supervisor Kenneth Hahn, and enjoys strong ties to the city’s African American community. He has frequently locked horns with Riordan and Stein over airport matters, but has strong support on the City Council.

Campaigns for the low-profile office of city attorney often remain quiet and peaceful, but the job is among the most powerful in the city, controlling an annual budget of $70 million and a staff of about 700.

Observers say that the race is clearly Hahn’s to lose--but that Stein presents a formidable challenge.

“It’s a heck of a beginning,” Taylor said. “Jimmy’s got a real problem. People like him, but they’re willing to say they want somebody different. Change is healthy in a lot of people’s minds.”

Stein’s first installment of campaign contributors shows more than 650 people supporting his effort. About 150 of them are lawyers from many of Southern California’s most prominent firms, including several who have contracts with the city. But also on the list are a tire dealer, a farmer, people from the movie industry, teachers, car sales personnel, a rabbi, the owner of a pool hall and a photographer.

Peppering the pages are names closely tied to the mayor: Riordan’s girlfriend, Nancy Daly; police Commissioner Bert Boeckmann and eight members of his family and several of his employees; a dozen lawyers from the mayor’s former firm, Riordan & McKinzie; fire Commissioners David Fleming and Elizabeth Lowe; Bill Wardlaw, the mayor’s top political advisor, and former police Commissioner Enrique Hernandez Jr. Only one $500 contribution appears to come from airport-connected concerns.* While Englander called Stein’s first report “impressive,” he noted that the challenger begins with “absolute zero name recognition” and estimated that Stein needs at least $1 million more than Hahn in order to be competitive in the campaign.

San Fernando Valley consultant Larry Levine downplayed the importance of the numbers announced Tuesday, noting that there is a long road to the ballot box in June.

“I assume both campaigns will have all the money they’ll need,” Levine said. “What they have right now doesn’t matter. It’s too far away.”