Davis, Riordan Rake In Donations

By JEFFREY L. RABIN and DOUG SMITH

Jan. 11, 2002 12 AM PT

TIMES STAFF WRITERS

Gov. Gray Davis collected almost $6 million in contributions for his reelection effort in the last three months of 2001, leaving him with more than $35.4 million on hand to wage his campaign. Former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan easily eclipsed his Republican counterparts by raising nearly $4 million in the last quarter.

Campaign contribution reports filed Thursday show the magnitude of Riordan’s fund-raising advantage over businessman Bill Simon Jr. and Secretary of State Bill Jones.

While Riordan had $3.8 million in his campaign treasury at the end of the year, Simon was forced to tap his personal fortune to remain a viable contender. He lent his campaign almost $1.7 million on Dec. 28 to boost his cash on hand to $2.8 million.

Apart from his own donations, Simon raised only $278,000 from contributors in three months.

Although Jones is the only Republican to hold a statewide office, he ran a distant third in fund-raising, netting little more than $431,600 after repaying some loans. He had $1.01 million left in his campaign treasury, enough to pay for about a week of television ads at the rate needed to have an impact on the state’s voters.

But almost a third of the cash in his war chest consists of loans, including $200,000 that Jones lent to his own campaign on New Year’s Eve, the end of the reporting period. He also received loans of $100,000 from Madera rancher Price Giffen and $35,000 from two Assembly members.

The latest campaign reports show that Riordan, after two terms as mayor of the state’s largest city, has made a rapid transition to statewide fund-raising.

Armed with the resources to buy television time, Riordan this week became the first of the Republican candidates to run TV commercials. Broadcast advertising is the biggest expense for candidates running in far-flung California.

“The bottom line is you need to get the money to get the paid time on TV,” said Bruce Cain, head of the Institute of Governmental Studies at UC Berkeley. “TV is the weapon of choice, and TV is expensive.”

Cain said that without substantially more money, Jones’ and Simon’s visibility will recede behind Riordan, who already is better known than his GOP compatriots.

If Jones--who unlike Simon does not have personal millions at his disposal--cannot raise more money, his “candidacy is dead in the water,” Cain said.

Riordan’s campaign team noted that his $4-million take did not include a check from the candidate.

“We’re pleased with our fund-raising progress,” said Kevin Spillane, political director of the former mayor’s effort. “It’s another sign that the Riordan campaign is on track and moving forward very successfully.”

Riordan’s largest single contribution during the last three months came from the association that represents state attorneys, administrative law judges and hearing officers. The group gave $250,000.

San Mateo-based software company Siebel Systems Inc. and a Siebel family trust donated $200,000 to Riordan. Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger gave $50,000, and Roy E. Disney, vice chairman of Walt Disney Co., and his wife, Patricia, each gave $45,000.

Sal Russo, Simon’s campaign strategist, said the secretary of state’s fund-raising was hampered by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. He predicted that the pace of contributions will increase in the weeks ahead as former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani helps raise money.

In contrast to Riordan’s powerful fund-raising, Simon’s biggest donors wrote much smaller checks. Developer A.G. Spanos gave $25,000. New York businessman Paul Singer and Thousand Oaks retiree Elizabeth Grossman were among only eight contributors of $10,000 or more.

With his latest loan, Simon has lent his campaign almost $2.28 million.

Despite the slow pace of Jones’ contributions at the end of last year, campaign spokesman Sean Walsh expressed the hope that upcoming events will raise enough money to allow the GOP candidate to buy television time.

The largest donor to Jones’ campaign during the period was California Casualty Management Co., which gave $50,000. The biometrics company Pelco Inc. in Clovis contributed $30,000. Reno Contracting Inc. and Pacific West Pharmacy in Placer County each gave $20,000.

Overshadowing the entire field was Davis, who has been raising funds for his reelection campaign almost since he was elected to his first term as governor.

The Democrat’s biggest contributors in the last quarter include labor unions. The Service Employees International Union gave $150,000. The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees union added more than $101,600 to Davis’ bulging campaign treasury.

Davis received $100,000 each from Univision Chairman Jerry Perenchio, the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, Beverly Hills-based developer Casden Properties and screenwriter Stephen Bing. The governor’s campaign also collected $50,000 or more from development, biotech, construction, investment, insurance, oil and cable television companies.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX/INFOGRAPHIC)

Fund-Raising in the Race for Governor

Democratic Governor Gray Davis widened his commanding lead in fundraising during the last quarter. Former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan jumped ahead of his rivals in the March 5 Republican primary.

GRAY DAVIS

Raised: $5,951,809

Spent: $1,506,195

Cash on hand: $35,455,083

Major contributors:

Service Employees International Union, $150,000

American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees union, $101,602

Casden Properties, $100,000

Jerry Perenchio, $100,000

Morongo Band of Mission Indians, $100,000

RICHARD RIORDAN

Raised:$3,972,388