Torrance Candidates Report Contributions

Three Torrance City Council members running for reelection have received their largest campaign contributions from developers, public employee unions and companies doing business with the city.

Campaign finance reports indicate that incumbents Dan Walker, Tim Mock and George Nakano have far outdistanced rivals Tony Kriss and Brian Hannon in raising funds for the March 8 council election, in which the top three vote-getters will win.

Walker, a three-term council veteran, is by far the most successful fund-raiser, collecting $69,359 between July 1 of last year and the close of the reporting period Jan. 23. A Torrance public relations consultant, Walker was planning a run for the seat of Assemblyman Gerald N. Felando (R-San Pedro) until Felando decided last week to seek reelection. Walker, 48, who has $118,393 in campaign funds on hand, is still considered likely to seek higher office.

$31,319 on Hand

Nakano, 52, a school administrator in Inglewood, has collected $24,241 since last summer. He reported $31,319 on hand to finance his campaign for a second term.

Mock, 33, a paralegal with a Long Beach law firm, has raised $16,100 since the middle of last year. He has $20,087 available to finance his campaign for a second term.

By contrast, challenger Kriss, 60, a real estate agent who lost a council race in 1986, reported raising less than $1,000, although he said he will file a revised campaign report because of errors in the one turned in last week.

An outspoken opponent of Torrance’s new restrictions on construction of small apartment and condominium projects, Kriss received all of his major contributions from local real estate people. The pace of growth and development and its impact on the community is expected to be a major issue in the council campaign.

Hannon, 23, assistant editor of the South Bay New Times, a small community newspaper, said his only contribution was his own donation of $305.

The contribution reports for the incumbents read like a Who’s Who of developers, unions and companies doing business with the city.

Western Waste Industries, which operates a garbage transfer station used by the city, gave $3,000 to Walker and $1,050 to Mock.

Kelt Oil & Gas, which has proposed an oil drilling project in a residential area of southeast Torrance, gave $3,000 to Walker.

Bayco Financial, a prominent developer of office buildings in Torrance, gave $2,000 to Walker, $600 to Mock, and $250 to Nakano.

Oxford Properties, developer of a high-rise office complex under construction at Torrance and Hawthorne boulevards in the heart of the city, gave $2,000 to Walker, $1,250 to Nakano and $1,000 to Mock.

Real Property Resources Inc., another local development firm, gave $1,500 to Mock and $1,250 to Nakano.

A political action committee associated with Santa Monica developer Ray Watt, developer of the giant Park del Amo project, gave $2,000 to Walker, $1,800 to Mock and $625 to Nakano.

Peter LaCombe, a Torrance attorney, gave $2,000 to Walker, $600 to Mock and $500 to Nakano.

Contractor Dan E. Butcher gave $600 to Mock and $500 to Nakano.

James A. Jones, an executive with the Torrance Co., owners of Del Amo Fashion Center, donated $750 to Nakano and $600 to Mock.

The union representing Torrance police officers gave $1,500 to Walker and $300 to Nakano while the firefighters union contributed $1,000 to Walker, $600 to Mock and $500 to Nakano. The municipal employees union gave $375 to Nakano.

Cable Contribution

Paragon Cable, operator of the Torrance cable television system, gave $2,000 to Walker and $300 to Mock.

Pioneer Theatres gave $3,000 to Walker and $1,000 each to Mock and Nakano. Walker works for the firm as a consultant on swap meets and flea markets held at drive-in theaters.

Walker also received $5,000 each from Pacific Theaters and Louis Welsh, owner of the Washington Iron Works in Gardena; $1,500 each from Richard Peters Farms of Fresno and Dr. Rami Rodriguez, owner of the South Bay New Times; $1,000 each from Storm Industries Inc. and Frank Scotto Towing, both of Torrance, and $500 from Anheuser-Busch of St. Louis.

Walker has spent $66,034 since the middle of last year, including $12,500 in fees to political consultant Allan Hoffenblum of Los Angeles.

Mock reported expenditures of $5,237, including $2,000 to his campaign consultant, Skelton, Grover & Associates of Los Angeles, and nearly $1,900 in printing expenses.

Nakano also received $777 from the owner of the Huntington Harbor Motor Inn and $500 each from South Seas Imports Inc., Del Amo Financial Center and Quality Inn of Torrance. He has spent $12,599 on campaign activities since last summer.