Records Show Alarcon Spent More Than Katz

Victorious state Senate candidate Richard Alarcon outspent his Democratic rival Richard Katz by about $43,000 in the months before the hard-fought June 2 primary, according to financial reports released by the candidates Monday.

Alarcon, a Los Angeles city councilman who beat Katz by just a handful of votes, reported $823,657 in campaign expenditures between January and June, according to financial summaries provided by his campaign. That’s about 5.5% more than the $780,684 Katz reported having spent in the same period.

The candidates were required to mail information about campaign contributions and expenditures to the California secretary of state on Friday, said Alarcon spokeswoman Annette Castro.

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Both candidates have continued to raise funds to retire debts from the campaign.

Alarcon went further into debt in the same period, and owes about $144,000. Katz reported about $99,000 in debts.

Alarcon will also continue raising money in preparation for the November election.

Republican Ollie McCauley is running against Alarcon for the 20th District state Senate seat, but faces an uphill battle in the strongly Democratic district.

The Alarcon-Katz race ended with Alarcon winning the Democratic nomination by just 27 votes. A recount, paid for by Katz, was called off after days of counting failed to change the results, but Katz is still pursuing a lawsuit against Alarcon, challenging his election.

Katz spokesman Harvey Englander attributed Alarcon’s financial edge to contributions from state Sen. Richard Polanco, head of the Latino caucus. Polanco’s contributions to the Alarcon campaign helped pay for a controversial mailer that is part of the basis of Katz’s lawsuit against Alarcon.

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Polanco’s contribution was $181,000--$50,000 of which was a loan, Alarcon said. But he played down the significance of financial factors.

His fund-raising goal “was to match Richard Katz,” Alarcon said. “Where we knew we could beat him was in mobilization, that was the most significant factor. . . . Going into this race, a lot of people thought I would not be able to raise as much money as Richard Katz,” he said. The fact that he raised more, “speaks to the broad base of support we had,” he said.