Hahn Still No. 1 in Cash Race

Los Angeles Mayor James K. Hahn maintains a substantial lead in the money race for next year’s mayoral election, but he raised less cash than one of his main challengers in the first six months of this year, according to the mayor’s campaign finance reports.

The mayor’s campaign reported Friday that he had raised $646,000 between Jan. 1 and June 30, more than half of it in June. That leaves the mayor with about $1.5 million in the bank months before the March election.

But former Assembly Speaker Bob Hertzberg, who entered the race in April, will report on Monday that he raised $700,000 in just 2 1/2 months, according to the Hertzberg campaign.

Hahn’s two other major challengers -- Councilman Bernard C. Parks and state Sen. Richard Alarcon (D-Sylmar) -- also have not yet filed their semiannual campaign finance reports. Neither campaign is expected to report raising close to what Hahn and Hertzberg have pulled in.

The reports, due to be mailed to the Ethics Commission on Monday, are seen as an early indication of how the race is shaping up. The next reports are not due until Oct. 11.

Hahn’s campaign strategists said Friday they are very satisfied with Hahn’s fundraising progress. The mayor has raised about $2 million since he began his reelection bid in April 2003.

“We’re going to have all the money he needs to get reelected,” said Bill Wardlaw, expressing confidence that the mayor would raise enough to spend between $2 million and $3 million before the March election.

But several political observers said the mayor’s fundraising pace has slowed significantly.

Hahn raised $872,000 in the last six months of 2003, about one-third more money than he did in the first six months of this year.

Hahn, however, had the fundraising field to himself last year, as Hertzberg, Parks and Alarcon all entered the race after March.

“They are going after the same contributors, so it’s going to be a lot more difficult for the mayor now,” said Larry Berg, retired director of the Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics at USC. “The first money is always the easiest to raise for an incumbent mayor.”

In the 2001 mayoral primary, the six major candidates raised between $1.1 million and $3.9 million each. Hahn and Antonio Villaraigosa, who made it into the runoff, raised $3.7 million and $3 million, respectively.

Villaraigosa is still considering a rematch with Hahn.

Berg said Hertzberg’s torrid fundraising pace may suggest that Hahn is vulnerable. “It sends that message to people who have a lot of money and have been waiting to decide who to give to,” Berg said. “I wouldn’t be smiling.”

Berg also said it is likely that Hahn’s fundraising has been hampered by the controversy over campaign fundraising and contracting at City Hall, which has included a county grand jury investigation into whether businesses have received city jobs in exchange for campaign cash.

The Hertzberg campaign seized on the mayor’s fundraising report as more good news for the former assemblyman from Sherman Oaks. “People are responding to Bob’s energy and his integrity,” campaign finance director Dan Weinstein said. “That’s why in just 10 weeks of campaigning, Bob Hertzberg out-raised an incumbent mayor.”

Weinstein attacked Hahn for continuing to take contributions from city contactors and others who do business with City Hall, a practice the mayor has proposed to ban and Hertzberg has said he would eschew.

Hahn has said he does not intend to change his fundraising practices unless the new law goes into effect.

An examination of the mayor’s campaign finance report suggests the mayor is collecting less from city contractors than he has in the past.

But Hahn turned to other traditional sources including unions, developers, bankers, entertainment industry executives and attorneys for fundraising help. The mayor’s reelection campaign received a big boost from Hollywood, including $1,000 contributions from Barbra Streisand, Walt Disney Co. Chief Executive Michael Eisner, HBO Chairman Christopher Albrecht and producer Jerry Bruckheimer.

The three founders of the entertainment company DreamWorks SKG -- David Geffen, Jeffrey Katzenberg and Steven Spielberg -- also wrote Hahn checks for $1,000 each.

Several developers who are building lofts, apartments and condominiums downtown also donated, including John Given, a vice president of CIM, who contributed $250, and Albion Pacific Property Resources, which gave $1,000 to Hahn’s campaign.

Jerome Snyder, who is developing a major commercial development in North Hollywood with $31 million in city loans and subsidies, also gave $1,000 to Hahn. Some of Snyder’s employees and relatives also contributed, giving Hahn between $500 and $1,000 each.

“The most important number is cash,” Wardlaw said, citing Hahn’s $1.5-million bank account and dismissing Hertzberg’s donors. “I feel sorry for them. They’re backing a loser.”

* (BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX)

Hahn fundraising

Money raised through June for Mayor James K. HahnÕs reelection campaign:

Jan. 1 to June 30 2003*: $430,000 July 1 to Dec. 31 2003: $872,000 Jan. 1 to June 30 2004: $646,000

*Hahn filed papers and began fundraising in April of 2003

Source: Hahn for Mayor 2005