2 Incumbents Lead in Campaign Funding

Councilman Tom Tait, in his first bid for election, is the top fund-raiser so far in the race to fill two council seats on the November ballot. Tait was appointed to the council in 1995 to fill a vacancy.

According to campaign statements, Tait raised $34,518 from Jan. 1 through June 30. Among those who have made $1,000 contributions--the legal limit--to Tait’s campaign are William C. Taormina and Vincent C. Taormina, the owner and president, respectively, of Taormina Industries, an Anaheim recycling firm.

The other incumbent, Frank Feldhaus, has reported raising $24,598 during the first six months of the year. His contributors include California Angels owners Gene and Jacqueline Autry, who each donated $1,000 to the campaign.

Tait and Feldhaus face challengers in what is expected to be a hotly contested race. The challengers include former councilman Irv Pickler and 1994 council candidate Shirley McCracken.

McCracken received $4,460 in contributions through June 30 and has loaned $20,000 of her own money to the campaign.

Pickler has reported $20,299 in contributions, including $400 from a political action committee of the Anaheim Firefighters Assn. Pickler also received $1,000 from William C. Taormina.

Candidate Lucille Kring has loaned $10,000 to her campaign.