Challenger Attacks Chick for Taking Lobbyists’ Donations

Business executive Laurette Healey, waging an uphill campaign for Los Angeles city controller, on Wednesday blasted the presumed front-runner, City Councilwoman Laura Chick, for raising part of her campaign treasury from lobbyists who try to influence City Hall decisions.

Healey also called for the city Ethics Commission to beef up its campaign finance reporting rules by requiring candidates to provide “a separate and complete disclosure” of lobbyists’ contributions.

Healey said her audit of contributions Chick had received through March 24 turned up more than $50,000 from lobbyists, lobbying firms and their employees. More than $10,000 came from clients of lobbyist Steven Afriat, who is Chick’s campaign consultant.

“What does that say about her ability to be impartial as the guardian of the city’s checkbook?” Healey said, adding that she does not accept such contributions.

Chick, who was found by a recent Los Angeles Times poll to be running well ahead of Healey and investment banker Mervin Evans, said Healey’s criticism is unfounded and a ploy to get her own campaign on track. (Chick had raised about $485,000 by the end of the reporting period, while Healey had raised less than $100,000, including a $30,000 loan to herself.)

“It’s just a desperate attack from a desperate candidate who has nothing substantive to say about herself and her own record,” Chick said. “I do have a record of proven performance . . . and she can’t deal with that.”