Big Donors Don’t Play Political Favorites

Over the course of the campaign to select the next mayor of Los Angeles, a number of prominent political donors and businesses have opted to write checks to multiple candidates, a practice that donors say demonstrates their generosity but that campaign reformers and others say highlights the use of contributions to secure access.

Since City Atty. James K. Hahn and former Assemblyman Antonio Villaraigosa won spots in the June 5 runoff, they have been the beneficiaries of double donors, some of whom hedged their bets in the first round of the race as well. A Times analysis of campaign contributions made in the first round shows some political givers donated to as many as five of the six major contenders.

This select group includes such businesses as Walt Disney Co. and Southern California Edison. Individuals giving to five candidates included Univision chief Jerry Perenchio, developer Nathan Shapell, attorney and developer Douglas Ring, and city police commissioner and car dealer Herbert F. Boeckmann II.

Tracy Weston, chief executive officer of the Center for Government Studies, a Los Angeles-based organization that supports political reform efforts, said those making contributions to more than one candidate in a race generally do so not because of ideology or principle but to ensure access to the winner. Such contributors want to be on record supporting the candidate so they are in the good graces of whoever wins.

“It’s an insurance policy,” Weston said. “You’re guaranteed to get a winner, even though it’s costly.”

It may be expensive, but it’s worth it to some. With the field down to Hahn and Villaraigosa, some prominent political players are deciding on one candidate; others continue to back both.

Billionaire movie and record magnate David Geffen is one of those supporting both sides in the runoff. Geffen gave to Hahn, Villaraigosa and Councilman Joel Wachs before Wachs was eliminated from the contest when he placed fourth in last month’s election.

Geffen sent two checks totaling $3,500 to Hahn and one for $1,000 to Villaraigosa because he thinks “either would make a good mayor for the city,” said Andy Spahn, a senior executive at DreamWorks SKG studio.

If Geffen makes additional contributions in the mayor’s race, Spahn said, he expects Geffen will give to both candidates because he “has worked with both of these guys at various times” and had a positive experience with them. “We feel a certain comfort level from the standpoint of public policy with each of them.”

Jeffrey Katzenberg, one of three founders of DreamWorks, gave $3,500 to Hahn, $2,000 to Villaraigosa and $1,000 to commercial real estate broker Steve Soboroff. Soboroff finished third in the April election.

Mike Vollman, a spokesman for DreamWorks, would not discuss what Katzenberg plans to do in the runoff. It’s “Jeffrey’s personal business, and we’re not commenting on it,” he said.

The Hahn and Villaraigosa campaigns must file their first report Thursday on contributions received for the general election.

Geffen and Katzenberg were hardly alone in having given to several mayoral candidates before the April election. Records show it is something of a pattern in the entertainment industry and some other businesses.

The Disney Co. sent checks to five of the six candidates during the long run-up to the April contest. Hahn, Villaraigosa, Wachs, Soboroff and Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-Los Angeles) each received $1,000. Disney Vice Chairman Roy Disney gave only to Soboroff.

Disney spokesman Ken Green said “the company believes in a multiple candidate system” and gave to five candidates in the first round. State Controller Kathleen Connell did not receive a check because the entertainment giant had made its commitments before she entered the race last fall, Green said.

At this point, Green said, Disney has not made any contributions to either candidate in the runoff.

In contrast to those who see multiple contributions as a means to preserve a donor’s access, some cast the practice as a gesture of conflicted friendship.

Boeckmann, owner of Galpin Motors, said he gave to Hahn, Villaraigosa, Soboroff, Wachs and Connell, but not Becerra. Boeckmann said he sent checks to the five candidates because they are friends and he did not want to choose among them. So he was left with two options: “Don’t help anyone or help a lot of candidates.”

By contributing to most contenders, he said, each received money to get their message out to the voters. Now, Boeckmann said, he is very strongly supporting Hahn for mayor.

In some cases, the givers covered both ends of the political spectrum from Republican Soboroff to Democrat Villaraigosa.

Some Settle on Hahn or Villaraigosa

One of those was Mayor Richard Riordan’s wife, Nancy Daly, who donated $1,000 to both. Daly’s contribution to Soboroff dates back to 1999 when fund-raising for the mayor’s race began. The check to Villaraigosa was sent last summer.

Riordan, on the other hand, supported Soboroff through the first round. He spent $141,703 of his own money for phone banks and mailers on Soboroff’s behalf. But when his choice failed to make the runoff, Riordan began looking for a candidate to endorse in the runoff. The mayor announced Wednesday that he is backing Villaraigosa.

Other donors who gave to multiple candidates have settled on one contender in the runoff.

Univision chief Perenchio gave $1,000 to Villaraigosa, Hahn, Wachs, Soboroff and Becerra before making a final choice. “I’ve known and admired Antonio for a number of years,” Perenchio said in a statement. “I think he is an extremely personable and skilled leader. I know he has all the qualities to be a great mayor of our wonderful city.”

Television baron Haim Saban, a huge political giver to Democrats, has sent checks to both Villaraigosa and Hahn, although the former assemblyman has received $3,000 compared to $1,000 for the city attorney. “He’s contributed to both candidates because he likes both candidates,” said Saban spokeswoman Laura Hartigan. But with the runoff rapidly approaching, she said, “he’s supporting Antonio at this point.”

One company no longer betting on more than one candidate is Southern California Edison. Brian Bennett, Edison’s vice president of external affairs, said the firm will not make any contributions in the mayoral runoff because of the financial crisis facing the utility.

Before the energy crisis forced cutbacks late last year, Bennett said, the company gave $1,000 each to Hahn, Villaraigosa, Wachs, Connell and Becerra. The lone exception was Soboroff, who did not ask for a contribution.

Bennett said that, based on “our observations and hands-on experience of dealing with them directly,” Edison officials believe all of the candidates, including Soboroff, were of sufficient stature to become mayor of Los Angeles.

Through the state power grid, Edison has bought surplus power from the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, whose board will be selected by the next mayor. The city has yet to be paid for some of the electricity sold to Edison.

Other businesses giving to more than one candidate included AT&T; and the California Cable Television Assn. Each gave $1,000 to Hahn and Villaraigosa. Cable TV companies receive their franchise rights to operate in the city through the city government.

Construction giant Tutor-Saliba Corp. or its chief executive Ron Tutor gave to both men, although company officials have donated far more to Hahn than Villaraigosa. Tutor-Saliba has been a major contractor on public works projects in Los Angeles.

Construction manager O’Brien Kreitzberg gave to both candidates early in the campaign. So did Imperial Bank and Hilton Hotels Corp. A Sacramento lobbyist, Hubert Riley, sent $1,000 to both Hahn and Villaraigosa in the final month before the April election. The Amalgamated Transit Union, which represents mechanics at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, gave to both candidates but is supporting Villaraigosa in the runoff.

Rogers & Associates, a major Century City public relations firm, gave $1,000 to Villaraigosa in March. On the same day, company executive Ronald Rogers gave an identical amount to Hahn.

“You want to be helpful to people you have known,” Rogers said. “I’ve known both people for a long period of time.”

But as the election approaches, Rogers said, he decided to back only one candidate. “I’m giving exclusively to Antonio.”

Even so, Rogers’ vote is canceled out at home. He is married to Lisa Specht, a prominent lawyer and lobbyist. Specht is supporting and raising funds for Hahn.