Look Who’s Buying the Mayor’s Race

If money begets reality, Mayor James K. Hahn, the top overall money man in the 2005 mayoral race, can’t be counted out no matter how much an evolving city-contract scandal touches him. By the same logic, former Assembly Speaker Bob Hertzberg, in second place, has a shot that belies his lack of name recognition as he seeks to pull together a Richard Riordan-like coalition of Valley and city Anglos. Riordan did it with his own millions; Hertzberg must hustle for his.

Dollars also have poured recently into Antonio Villaraigosa’s campaign, which started late because of his involvement with Sen. John Kerry’s presidential bid and because the recently elected city councilman had to agonize over earlier pledges not to run.

The money trail also suggests that former LAPD Chief and City Councilman Bernard C. Parks is more likely to play spoiler to Hahn than to become mayor. And state Sen. Richard Alarcon looms as a reverse spoiler, helping the incumbent at the expense of Villaraigosa and perhaps Hertzberg.

The map below shows where inside -- and outside -- the city of Los Angeles the candidates raised most of their money in 2004. Each color corresponds to a candidate, and the larger the circle, the more money he raised in that particular area.

-- Howard Blume with Maloy Moore

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1. San Pedro

San Pedro supports its own live-in mayor, neighbor Jimmy. Then there’s the money from harbor interests, which consider incumbents a good investment.

2. Rancho Palos Verdes and Rolling Hills

Rancho Palos Verdes and Rolling Hills aren’t in L.A., but they’ve got big money and business downtown, a natural combination for incumbent Hahn.

3. South of downtown

Neighborhoods south of downtown have people and problems galore, but few dollars to buy influence. Some neighborhoods gave zero to the mayor’s race. Parks leads the way in Watts 90002 with all of $1,500.

4. Black L.A.

Much of black L.A. supports Parks, but black L.A. lacks money and enough votes to elect a mayor.

5. Black L.A.

Black L.A.’s biggest pot of money lies outside city limits in Baldwin Hills environs, and it’s going to Parks ($17,550 in one ZIP), and not to the Son of Kenneth.

6. Santa Monica

Santa Monica, land of liberals with largess, splits between pragmatic Hahnies (who do business downtown) and lefty Antonios (who dream of a better world).

7. Beverly Hills

Remember Beverly Hills 90210? That ZIP also crosses into L.A. Both enclaves are rich, and together topped $200,000 in donations, the largest of any ZIP Code. Hahn ($75,350) got the most, though Hertzberg ($62,779) and Villaraigosa ($40,250) scored too.

8. Brentwood, Pacific Palisades

Hertzberg led the way in L.A.’s wealthy pockets, including Brentwood 90049 ($75,049) and Pacific Palisades 90272 ($34,950, just edging Villaraigosa).

9. West L.A.

Across town, from West L.A. to Fairfax, Hertzberg got the goods in heavily Jewish areas that otherwise would help Villaraigosa or Hahn. (In Fairfax 90036, it was Hertzberg $35,250, Villaraigosa $34,450 and Hahn $12,650.)

10. Pasadena

Hahn scores with old money in Pasadena ($19,500 in one ZIP) and San Marino ($15,600).

11. The Valley

Hertzberg pulls in most of the Valley money belt, running from the south edge to the west edge of the mountains.

12. Northeast Valley

Alarcon holds his northeast Valley base, but, like Parks, his ethnic strength is more likely to play spoiler than winner. In this area, he’s shutting out Villaraigosa, helping incumbent Hahn.

13. The Valley

Where’s Bernie? Nowhere in the Valley, which would have been a natural beachhead for the pro-business moderate.

14. West Valley

Alarcon extends his base into the Latino part of the west Valley, but it’s not where the money is. (Canoga Park 91303 gave all of its $1,500 to Alarcon.)

15. South and East of L.A.

Alarcon splits the money with Villaraigosa in Latino enclaves south and east of L.A. proper.

16. East L.A.

Villaraigosa holds his base in East L.A. and also where Latinos and Anglo liberals mix, as in Mount Washington, Echo Park and Eagle Rock 90041 (Villaraigosa $12,900).

17. Downtown

Hahn does well downtown, his career stamping grounds, but Hertz- berg especially makes inroads, as in L.A. 90071 (Hertzberg $26,450; Hahn $20,102).