CALIFORNIA BRIEFING / LOS ANGELES

In the primary race for Los Angeles city attorney, Westside Councilman Jack Weiss held a 2-1 advantage over San Pedro attorney Carmen Trutanich, but Trutanich has erased that advantage in the first phase of their runoff campaign, according to new finance reports.

Both candidates began fundraising anew after the March 3 primary. In the period ending April 4, Weiss raised $408,815 and Trutanich raised $410,068 in cash contributions. The attorney also got an infusion of $122,203 in matching funds, bringing his cash balance to $523,665. But Trutanich also has $110,616 in unpaid bills, while Weiss has none. In the five-candidate primary, Weiss led Trutanich 36% to 27%.

The Weiss campaign has asked the city Ethics Commission to review Trutanich’s paperwork -- alleging that his campaign did not itemize properly and did not report payment to a firm, EMC Research, that conducted polling in March.

Trutanich’s treasurer filed an amended report Friday that included the $24,000 expenditure as an unpaid bill.

The Los Angeles Police Protective League’s police action committee reported Friday that it made an independent expenditure of $252,000 for Trutanich, purchasing radio airtime for an ad.

Fundraising was also even in the race for the Westside council district that is being vacated by Weiss. Former state Assemblyman Paul Koretz has nearly $92,000 in cash on hand and Neighborhood Council member David T. Vahedi has more than $96,000 available.

Vahedi raised $70,161 in contributions and lent $10,000 to his campaign. Koretz raised $63,694 and lent $25,000 to his campaign. Both received $25,000 in matching funds from the city.

-- Maeve Reston