Filing Shows Villaraigosa Outspent Hahn

Former Assembly Speaker Antonio Villaraigosa has out-raised and outspent City Atty. James K. Hahn as the runoff campaign for mayor of Los Angeles enters the home stretch, leaving Hahn with slightly more money to spend in the campaign’s closing weeks, according to campaign disclosure reports filed Thursday.

The documents show Villaraigosa raised more than $1.4 million since he captured the top spot in the April 10 primary. He outpaced Hahn by about a quarter-million dollars as of last weekend and has broadened that lead with late contributions received in recent days.

But Villaraigosa also has spent heavily--$1.3 million on the runoff. Hahn, by contrast, has conserved his resources for the campaign’s crucial closing weeks.

Because of the wide spending gap, Hahn had more cash on hand, with $634,485 compared to Villaraigosa’s $487,598 at the close of the reporting period last Saturday.

Hahn is also disadvantaged by the massive spending on Villaraigosa’s behalf by the state Democratic Party and the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor. Both are waging mail and phone campaigns for the former lawmaker. Hahn is receiving significant support from the Carpenters Union and $260,000 in free advertising space from a billboard company.

“Given the dynamics of the race, I’d rather be ahead of him,” said Hahn spokesman Kam Kuwata after hearing the latest fund-raising figures. “We knew this was coming so we set our budget accordingly.”

But Villaraigosa campaign consultant Parke Skelton said “extraordinary enthusiasm for Antonio’s campaign” is responsible for the candidate’s fund-raising success. “We’ve had to turn down scores of events because we don’t have time,” he said.

Skelton predicted Villaraigosa will out-raise Hahn by as much as $400,000 by the time voters go to the polls on June 5. “A very high percentage of our budget is being spent on TV,” he said. “There is really no other way to effectively communicate with a city of this size.”

To collect the campaign cash, Villaraigosa has made fund-raising forays to New York, Washington, Miami and San Francisco recently, in addition to an intense schedule of events in Los Angeles.

His campaign report shows the breadth and depth of his financial support--from entertainment industry figures and corporate leaders to labor unions and operators of small businesses. There are Hollywood celebrities, producers and studio executives and lobbyists from City Hall to the nation’s capital. Individual givers span the spectrum.

Hahn’s donors reflect his 20 years of experience at City Hall. Well-represented on his contributor list are law firms and airport concessionaires, real estate developers and construction companies, lobbyists and public relations firms. Entertainment industry leaders show up as well. Hahn also reports a number of smaller contributions from individuals and businesses.

Meanwhile, in the city attorney’s race, candidates Mike Feuer and Rocky Delgadillo are locked in a furious fight for the cash to make their final appeal to voters. The campaign reports show deputy mayor Delgadillo has far outdistanced city councilman Feuer in fund-raising.

Delgadillo collected $633,648 in contributions for the runoff and spent virtually all of it. So, he had less cash on hand at the end of the reporting period than Feuer.

“The money that comes in goes right back out to TV stations,” said Delgadillo campaign spokeswoman Kristina Scott.

Feuer raised just $429,827, including a $29,000 personal loan. He spent $353,627. “We knew we would be out-raised,” said Feuer’s campaign manager, Samantha Stevens. “It does not come as a big surprise.

Feuer had $259,803 in cash on hand compared to $174,542 for Delgadillo when the candidates’ public matching money is included.

Despite Feuer’s cash advantage, Delgadillo has widened the fund-raising gap in recent days. He has received twice as much in late contributions as Feuer.

“Rocky has had tremendous success with fund-raising,” Scott said. She was not concerned about having less cash on hand than Feuer because Delgadillo’s fund-raising is continuing rapidly. And his campaign is again being aided by his boss, Mayor Richard Riordan.

The mayor reported Thursday that he spent almost $77,000 of his own money to see his deputy for business development elected to the office Hahn will vacate in June.

Delgadillo’s bid also has been helped by nearly $425,000 in free advertising space from two billboard companies. Stevens said that could come back to haunt Delgadillo.

“The billboard industry is trying to buy the election,” she said. “Hopefully the voters will figure that out.

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Fund-Raising in Mayor’s Race

Former Assembly Speaker Antonio Villaraigosa has outraised and outspent his rival, City Atty. James K. Hahn, as the race for mayor enters the home stretch. But Hahn conserved his resources and had more cash available at the close of the reporting period Saturday.

THE RUNOFF CAMPAIGN

James K. Hahn

Contributions: $1,168,956

Expenditures: $824,572

Matching funds: $290,102

Cash on hand: $634,485

*

Antonio Villaraigosa

Contributions: $1,424,336

Expenditures: $1,326,595

Matching funds: $324,249

Cash on hand: $487,598

Sources: Contribution reports, Los Angeles Ethics Commission