Garcetti, Cooley Raised $200,000 Each in Quarter

Keeping pace in their crucial race for funds, district attorney candidates Gil Garcetti and Steve Cooley each picked up slightly more than $200,000 in the last three months, according to statements released by the two campaigns Thursday.

Garcetti, the incumbent, still has by far the fatter wallet of the two, because he out-raised Cooley early in the campaign and has spent less since then. But Cooley aides say they have enough money to wage a competitive television advertising effort, and they have already booked TV time for the last week before the Nov. 7 election.

According to the latest campaign contribution statements, Garcetti received $213,642 in the period between July 1 and Sept. 30. Cooley received $230,889.

Garcetti ended the period with slightly more than $1 million in cash on hand--10 times as much as Cooley, who reported $98,000.

However, Cooley campaign manager John Shallman said the disparity was not nearly as great as it appeared because Cooley’s campaign has purchased substantial television time in advance, while Garcetti has not. The contribution statement showed that Cooley spent more than $500,000 during the three-month period.