City Attorney Hopefuls Amass Hefty War Chests

Two of the leading candidates for Los Angeles city attorney have raised well over half a million dollars apiece, the latest campaign finance reports revealed Wednesday.

Flush with donations from real estate and business interests, Rocky Delgadillo, deputy mayor for economic development, had raised $592,243 by year’s end, nosing past City Councilman Mike Feuer, who had collected a total of $557,738 since beginning the race almost two years ago.

Although their treasuries do not approach the levels being amassed in the mayor’s race, Delgadillo and Feuer are the leading fund-raisers among candidates in Los Angeles’ “down ticket” contests, which include city controller and seven council seats.

The latest reports, required to be sent to the city Ethics Commission by Wednesday, cover July 1 through Dec. 31 of 2000. But the reports only have to be postmarked by the deadline, so not all were available.

Among city controller candidates, Councilwoman Laura Chick reported raising $355,285 since starting her campaign treasury in late 1999. Her consultant, Steven Afriat, however, disputes the total figure, saying she has raised more, $370,378. Of that, $80,825 was collected in the last half of the year. She had $250,886 left to spend at year’s end.

Businesswoman Laurette Healey, recruited by Mayor Richard Riordan for the race, did not begin raising money until after the first of the year and therefore had no report to file this period. She said Riordan has already begun to help her raise money.

Reports for former city Treasurer J. Paul Brownridge were not available Wednesday.

In the city attorney’s race, Delgadillo, who oversees Riordan’s efforts to attract and retain businesses, raised $319,781 in the second half of last year. He had almost $461,000 left to spend on the April 10 primary.

Though Feuer got an earlier start in raising money, it has flowed in more slowly--he collected $202,496 during the latest reporting period; he had a closing cash balance of $408,513.

Feuer’s campaign consultant, Larry Levine, said the councilman’s refusal to accept money from lobbyists and political action committees has made fund-raising more challenging. Because Delgadillo and Feuer intend to accept public matching funds, both will be held to a $990,000 spending cap in the primary, meaning each will have about the same to spend on the campaign, Levine said.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Leah Purwin D’Agostino has raised a total of $158,076 to date, including $71,853 in the most recent period, and had $87,649 left to spend.

Documents for a fourth candidate, Deputy Dist. Atty. Frank Tavelman, were not available Wednesday. Previously, he had reported raising $1,000.

Reports in some of the open City Council races offered some surprises, including in the Westside-San Fernando Valley’s 5th District, where former state Sen. Tom Hayden was expected to have a lot to spend in the crowded contest to succeed Feuer.

But reports showed Hayden far behind fund-raising leader Jack Weiss, a former federal prosecutor, and trailing four other contenders as well. Weiss, who began his effort in April, reported raising $186,044 by Dec. 31. Hayden started fund-raising in September and reported raising $79,000, including $21,000 he loaned his campaign. But the former legislator said he is prepared to step in with additional loans to match what his competitors spend as election day approaches.

In the Valley’s 3rd District, council aide Francine Oschin outpaced the seven other candidates. She had collected a total of $120,319 by Dec. 31 and had cash on hand of $110,792, with debts of $10,000. Next was former council aide Judith Hirshberg, who had raised $79,803, including $18,000 in loans.

The top fund-raiser in the Hollywood area’s 13th District was former Assemblyman Scott Wildman with a total of $120,037. He and three others raised more than former Councilman Mike Woo, who reported $73,398. Woo gave up the seat to run unsuccessfully for mayor in 1993.

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Times staff writers Tina Daunt and Patrick McGreevy contributed to this story.