Spending in Mayoral Primary Tops $10 Million

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As the race for L.A. mayor headed into its final weekend, the major candidates for mayor had spent more than $10 million, and taken in more than $11 million in contributions and city matching funds, according to campaign reports the candidates filed late Friday afternoon.


The figures bore out a tight, three-man race for the two run-off spots. Through March 2, incumbent Mayor James Hahn had spent $3.5 million out of the $3.6 in total contributions and matching funds; he had just $123,000 in cash remaining. Hahn also benefited from $470,000 in independent expenditures on his behalf.


Hahn raised more than $2 million dollars more than one year ago hoping he could coast through the primary with little opposition. However, City Councilman Antonio Villaraigosa and former Assembly Speaker Bob Hertzberg have come on strong in recent weeks and threaten to knock Hahn out of the run-off.


Villaraigosa, also a former Assembly speaker, spent $2.5 million through March 2, after receiving a total of $2.65 million in contributions and matching funds. He had $242,000 on hand for the final week of the campaign.


Hertzberg was in the best cash position to mount a final ad blitz; he had $292,000 cash on hand after raising $2.8 million in contributions and matching funds, of which he had spent $2.4 million as of March 2.


City Councilman Bernard Parks had spent nearly $1.1 million through March 2, leaving him with $56,000 in cash left out of nearly $1.2 million in contributions and matching funds.


As he has throughout the primary, state Sen. Richard Alarc & #243;n came in last among the five major candidates, with a total of $720,000 raised in contributions and matching funds. He had spent $735,000 through March 2. He had $31,000 on hand, after factoring in debt incurred and matching funds not yet posted.


In the hotly contested 11th District City Council race for the open seat vacated by termed-out Cindy Miscikowski, community activist Flora Gil Krisiloff and former cable television talk show host Bill Rosendahl remained locked in a virtual fundraising tie.


Krisiloff raised a total of $297,000, while Rosendahl raised $258,000, with both receiving an additional $100,000 in city matching funds. Both candidates had spent just over $300,000 through March 2. A third candidate, Angela Reddock, had raised $115,000 including city matching funds.

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