City Attorney Rivals Near $1 Million Each in Donations

Deputy Mayor Rocky Delgadillo and City Councilman Mike Feuer, the two leading competitors for Los Angeles city attorney, both are nearing the $1-million mark in their fund-raising, campaign finance reports indicated Thursday.

Both candidates are using part of their funds to broadcast television commercials, starting this week, in Los Angeles’ expensive, far-flung market, their campaigns said.

Bolstered by the high-profile endorsement of his popular and well-heeled boss, Mayor Richard Riordan, Delgadillo raised another $102,555 in contributions during the reporting period from Feb. 25 through March 24. The latest round of fund-raising brings Delgadillo’s total to date to $779,201; in addition, he has received $225,688 in matching public funds, the city Ethics Commission reported.

Feuer reported raising another $81,208 during the one-month period, bringing his campaign total to $690,893; he has received $253,179 in matching funds.

Feuer had more left to spend in the final stretch before the April 10 municipal election--he reported an ending cash balance of $405,314 to Delgadillo’s $100,124.

But Delgadillo is benefiting from at least two independent efforts on his behalf--more than $100,000 in campaign billboards by an outdoor advertising company and at least one slate mailer from Riordan.

A Delgadillo aide said the campaign has earmarked much of its cash for broadcast television ads that began airing Thursday and will be shown on every Los Angeles area television station through election day. Spokeswoman Kristina Scott said the campaign is spending about $350,000 a week on the two television spots.

One spot features businessman and former basketball star Magic Johnson.

“You want to talk about L.A. champions? Well, here’s one you should know,” Johnson says on camera to introduce footage of Delgadillo, who heads Riordan’s economic development programs.

“Born and raised on the Eastside, Rocky went to Harvard, became a teacher and a lawyer, but instead of cashing in, he came home to fight for L.A,” Johnson continues, saying Delgadillo created “thousands of jobs in our hardest hit communities” and touching on Delgadillo campaign themes to improve school and neighborhood safety.

The second ad features Riordan, who has helped his deputy raise money and who is planning to send out his own political mailer touting Delgadillo and his other endorsed candidates, ranging from mayor to education boards.

The Feuer campaign unveiled a television ad that will run on broadcast stations today through election day. A Feuer spokeswoman would not reveal how much the campaign plans to spend on the spots but acknowledged it is less than the $700,000 in spots the Delgadillo campaign says it is buying.

Playing on Feuer’s anti-gun violence, pro-environment record, the ad begins with footage of handguns dropped into a metal compactor and shredder by police officers, while Feuer’s voice is heard off-camera:

“These guns don’t belong in the hands of criminals or kids. . . . That’s why I wrote some of the toughest gun laws in the nation.”

The scene dissolves to a shot of Feuer in a park, where he is joined by his wife and two children.

“As city attorney, I’ll enforce those laws and bring action teams into our communities to solve neighborhood problems, not just for my family but for all our families,” Feuer says.

The spot concludes with a list of some of Feuer’s most prominent backers, including California Atty. Gen. Bill Lockyer.

Though all four candidates in the city attorney’s race agreed to a $990,000 spending cap in exchange for public matching funds, the limit was dissolved earlier this week when a large outdoor advertising firm, Eller Media Co., reported it had spent more than $100,000 on an independent billboard campaign on Delgadillo’s behalf.

Both the Feuer and Delgadillo campaigns said they expect to raise and spend at least some additional money.

Another candidate in the race, Deputy Dist. Atty. Lea Purwin D’Agostino, reported Thursday she raised $37,453 during the latest reporting period, bringing her total contributions to $235,104. Additionally, she has received $98,689 in public matching funds.

A report was not available Thursday for the remaining candidate, Deputy Dist. Atty. Frank Tavelman.

In the contest for city controller, City Councilwoman Laura Chick continued to outdistance her main competitor, entertainment business executive Laurette Healey.

Chick brought in another $99,009 this period, for a total to date of $484,830. Healey added $18,901 to her coffers this period, giving her $91,205 to date. No report was available for the third candidate, financial consultant Mervin Evans.