Riordan Not Yet a Funding Factor in Schools Race

Mayor Richard Riordan’s fund-raising clout has yet to make an appearance in the races for four seats on the Los Angeles Board of Education, early campaign contribution reports show.

Although the mayor has promised to pump as much as $1 million into the election in an attempt to shake up the board, the three challengers and one incumbent he is supporting have yet to see more than a dribble.

But the reports reflect only contributions raised as of the end of the year. In most elections, the big money rolls in later in the campaigns.

Also missing so far has been the large infusion of teachers union money that played a significant role in the last two school board elections.

But the extent to which school board members can rely upon political support from within the institution they govern was demonstrated by board member George Kiriyama, one of three incumbents targeted by the mayor.

Kiriyama jumped ahead of all candidates in fund-raising for the April 13 election, receiving $127,695, almost all from a $125-a-plate dinner in December.

Of 760 donations reported by Kiriyama, about two-thirds were from individual teachers, principals and upper-level administrators of the Los Angeles Unified School District.

A distant second in fund-raising was board member David Tokofsky, the only incumbent to win the mayor’s backing. Tokofsky, who represents the area from Lincoln Heights to the northeast San Fernando Valley, reported receiving about $54,910. His 102 donors include 23 school district employees as well as United Teachers-Los Angeles, which gave him $18,000 in November. He also received donations of $1,500 from the school police officers association, $500 from the district’s outside law firm, O’Melveny & Myers, and $400 from Leonard Fuller, a district consultant.

His challenger, Yolie Flores Aguilar, was not far behind, with contributions of more than $36,396.

Both Tokofsky and Kiriyama received endorsements from the teachers union, but said they did now know how much the union would give them. Kiriyama, a former principal, received funds from the principals union but not the teachers union in his 1995 campaign. Tokofsky received about $145,000 from the teachers union.

Board member Barbara Boudreaux raised about $33,084. Boudreaux’s funds came from a variety of sources, including school administrators and teachers, business owners and individuals in her South-Central Los Angeles and Crenshaw-area district.

Jeff Horton, the fourth incumbent seeking reelection, reported $10,044 in donations.

The three challengers backed by the mayor had collected less than $12,000 each as of Dec. 31, the end of the first campaign finance reporting period.

The challenger who collected the most--$11,879--was Caprice Young, who is taking on Horton in the district covering Echo Park, Hollywood and North Hollywood. Genethia Hayes, who is vying for Boudreaux’s post, had donations of $6,039.

Mike Lansing, who is challenging Kiriyama in the district that includes Watts and the harbor area, did not file a report of contributions. Campaign manager Tom Shortridge said no report was required because the committee was not formed until after the campaign reporting period had ended.

Kiriyama’s campaign manager, Joseph Ahn, said that despite the candidate’s large lead in contributions, he is expecting to need much more money to counter the funds he expects the mayor to channel to Lansing.

Lansing and Young did not begin gearing up their fund-raising until after the end of the year and expect the next filing period, which ends Feb. 28, to show more of the big money the mayor’s intervention was expected to bring into the race.

Hayes could not be reached for comment.

Riordan’s point person for the school board campaign, Veronica Davey, confirmed reports that Riordan and his wife, Nancy Daly, are planning to host a $1,000-a-person cocktail reception later this month. Davey declined to offer any more details about the event or the campaign, saying she did not want to reveal strategy.

Tokofsky, as well as campaign spokesmen for the other candidates backed by Riordan, said they have not been told how any money raised by the mayor will be allocated among them or when it might be forthcoming.

“I’ve seen no mayor money,” Tokofsky said.

Most of the candidates are remaining quiet about their campaign strategies, but in one indication of how fierce the races could become, Tokofsky went to court last week seeking to block Flores from identifying herself on the ballot as a member of the Los Angeles County Board of Education.

A judge rejected the request.

Meanwhile, Flores’ political consultant, Phil Giarrizzo, launched a barrage of criticism at Tokofsky for his solicitation of funds from the mayor and the teachers union.

Giarrizzo said he considers it a conflict of interest for Tokofsky to accept funds from the teachers union while sitting on a board that is negotiating with the union on a salary increase.

Giarrizzo said Flores is relying for her funds on “people who live and breathe children’s issues.”

He proposed a limit of $1,000 per person.

“Let’s make it individual contributions from school employees, not such large sums from the organization,” Giarrizzo said.

Tokofsky called that offer hypocritical. He said he has been told that the Flores campaign is seeking large contributions through established political operatives in the district.

The contribution reports show that Flores also tapped special interests.

She received $1,000 each from the president of a group called the National Multicultural Associates and an Edison vice president, and $500 apiece from several lawyers and consultants, including David Cartwright, the O’Melveny & Myers attorney who was recently dismissed as the district counsel for the Belmont Learning Complex project.

Others who filed no contribution reports were challengers Moses Calhoun, Austin Dragon, David Smith and Violet Staley.

Another would-be challenger, Earl Raymond High, failed to post the signatures required to qualify for the ballot.