Parks, Villaraigosa Mayoral Campaigns Get Funding Boosts

Los Angeles Councilmen Bernard C. Parks and Antonio Villaraigosa each raised more than twice as much as any of the other top mayoral candidates in the first three weeks of January.

But incumbent James K. Hahn is still the front-runner in the race for cash, leaving him in position to mount the most aggressive campaign.

The latest campaign contribution reports filed Thursday with the city Ethics Commission show Hahn has $2.46 million in the bank, enough to wage a full-fledged television and direct-mail campaign.

Steven P. Erie, director of the urban studies and planning program at UC San Diego, said the latest reports affirm that Hahn remains “the candidate to beat.” But he said that Villaraigosa and former Assembly Speaker Bob Hertzberg remain the most formidable challengers. “It still looks like a three-person race,” Erie said. “That hasn’t changed.”

Given the limited resources of Parks and state Sen. Richard Alarcon (D-Sun Valley), it would be “quite difficult” for either one to mount the kind of citywide television advertising that it takes to win, Erie said. “I wouldn’t take money to Vegas on either of them.”

Despite recent upheaval in his campaign, Parks raised $103,157 during the period from Jan. 1 to Jan. 22, more than any other candidate in the race for the city’s top office. The former L.A. police chief had $436,823 at the end of the reporting period.

Parks said his fundraising soared this month because many of his supporters had been busy during the holidays and distracted before the November presidential election.

“We feel very good. We have never wavered,” Parks said. “We are on course.”

The councilman credited his wife, Bobbie, with the success, and said it will allow his campaign to launch an extensive mail campaign in the next few weeks and a television ad campaign in mid-February.

Large shares of contributions came from developers and liquor stores. Parks, however, said he has taken a balanced approach to development and fought new liquor stores and bars in his district.

Villaraigosa, who lost to Hahn in June 2001, collected $92,707 in the reporting period, maintaining his strong fundraising pace since he entered the race in August, the last of Hahn’s four major challengers to announce. The Eastside councilman and former speaker of the state Assembly had $1.68 million in his campaign treasury.

Hertzberg had $1.57 million available, but the former San Fernando Valley lawmaker is less well known than Hahn and Villaraigosa and will have to rely more on TV advertising to introduce himself to the city’s voters. The Sherman Oaks attorney raised $43,339 in the latest period.

Hahn began raising money for his reelection in 2003, but his fundraising has slowed markedly. In the first 22 days of January, he raised $36,100, less than all of the major candidates except Alarcon.

Alarcon’s fundraising in the same period was the weakest of any point in his mayoral campaign. He brought in just $2,899. Although the San Fernando Valley lawmaker said he has been lining up commitments for an upcoming fundraiser, he has the least amount of money among the leading candidates to finance his first mayoral bid.

Alarcon said he has been at a disadvantage in raising donations because he is not an elected city official with power over contracts and planning projects.

Political consultant Allan Hoffenblum, who is not involved with any of the candidates, said Alarcon’s poor fundraising performance is an indication of a flagging campaign. “This will contribute to the perception that he is a second-tier candidate,” Hoffenblum said.

In the 11th District, where Councilwoman Cindy Miscikowski is prevented by term limits from seeking reelection, candidates Flora Gil Krisiloff and Bill Rosendahl raised similar amounts.

Krisiloff, a former area planning commissioner, reported raising $4,749 during the first 22 days of the year, ending with $220,370 in the bank. Rosendahl, a college professor, raised $4,275 and had $205,302 available. A third candidate, attorney Angela Reddock, raised $3,920 and had $5,792 in the bank.

Times staff writer Michael Finnegan contributed to this report.

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What theyÕve raised

Only incumbent James K. Hahn, Councilman Antonio Villaraigosa and former Assembly Speaker Bob Hertzberg have the resources to mount a full-fledged citywide television campaign.

Campaign Cash fundraising on hand*

James K. Hahn $2,777,618 $2,461,769 Bob Hertzberg $1,616,581 $1,573,789 Antonio Villaraigosa $1,400,698 $1,681,267 Bernard C. Parks $689,271 $436,823 Richard Alarcon $445,301 $355,912

* Cash on hand includes matching money from the cityÕs system of public financing for political campaigns. The campaign fundraising figure does not include matching funds.

Recent fundraising:

Councilmen Bernard C. Parks and Antonio Villaraigosa both raised more than twice as much as the other major candidates did in the last reporting period between Jan. 1 and Jan. 22.

Bernard C. Parks $103,157

Antonio Villaraigosa $92,707

Bob Hertzberg $43,339

James K. Hahn $36,100

Richard Alarcon $2,899

Source: Campaign contribution reports