Padilla Raises More Money Than Sanchez

Money from unions and allies of Mayor Richard Riordan helped Alex Padilla’s campaign for the Los Angeles City Council’s 7th District raise twice as much as rival Corinne Sanchez.

Padilla has also gone $186,000 into debt, he reported Friday.

That debt signals that Padilla believes he will win the June 8 runoff election, according to Rick Taylor, Padilla’s campaign manager.

“We feel confident we’re going to win and we’re willing to make the sacrifice now,” said Taylor, who is among those who have not been fully paid for his services.

Padilla received 48% of the vote in the April primary election, compared with 25% for Sanchez. The two are battling for the northeast San Fernando Valley’s 7th District council seat.

In all, Padilla reported raising about $100,600 and spending $171,400 as of May 22, according to a statement filed with the city Ethics Commission.

The debt from the runoff is in addition to $107,000 in unpaid bills he reported for the primary.

Padilla’s campaign expenditures do not include $29,000 spent so far by the County Federation of Labor’s political arm on an independent campaign on his behalf. In addition, the Democratic State Central Committee of California has also spent $7,000 on an independent campaign for Padilla.

In comparison, Sanchez reported raising and spending about $49,000. Asked if she has enough money to close the gap in the election, Sanchez said “absolutely not, and we’re pushing hard.”

Sanchez said personal contact with voters will be the key to the election.

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Padilla, a legislative aide to Assemblyman Tony Cardenas (D-Sylmar), reported contributions from many of the same groups of people who backed him in the primary--unions, friends of the mayor and players in Councilman Richard Alatorre’s Eastside political machine. Mayor Riordan and Alatorre have endorsed Padilla.

“It’s telling that those outside special interests are backing him,” Sanchez said.

Those contributing to Padilla include Alatorre allies Ernest Camacho, the East Los Angeles Community Union and Catalyst Communications, a company headed by former Alatorre chief of staff Al Avila.

Mayoral allies who gave to Padilla include former deputy mayors Michael Keeley and Robin Kramer and city commissioners Ted and Ellen Stein.

Labor contributions include $500 each from the United Firefighters of Los Angeles, Plumbers Local Union No. 78 and the Management Employee Assn.

Contributors to Sanchez include physicians and managers at El Proyecto del Barrio, the health services agency she runs.

She also received funds from the Assn. of Los Angeles County Deputy Sheriff’s Political Action Committee, Studio City attorney David Fleming, Urban League Vice President Sandra Carter, Cal State Northridge Dean William Flores, and Robert Bills, president of Valley Presbyterian Hospital.