Cristich’s finances top 70th

Alicia Robinson

With less than two months until the March primary, 70th Assembly

District candidate Cristi Cristich remains the top fundraiser in the

Republican race with nearly $703,000 raised in 2003. That’s roughly

$300,000 short of her $1-million fundraising goal.

Chuck DeVore, Cristich’s closest opponent in terms of campaign

contributions, raised less than half as much. He netted close to

$336,000 last year for his campaign.

Cristich said her fundraising is on track to reach her goal. Her

approach to the campaign is two-pronged, using direct mail and

volunteers to get her message to voters, she said.

Monday was the deadline for candidates’ semi-annual campaign

finance reports, which covered contributions and expenditures for all

of 2003.

“We’re in better shape right now going into the home stretch than

we anticipated,” DeVore said of his latest finance report.

Though he’s still a little shy of his $400,000 campaign goal,

DeVore said he’s not concerned. He cited a recent poll conducted by

his campaign that shows him with a 13-point lead over Cristich.

“We’re going to spend what we need to spend,” he said. “It’s a

modest amount We always figured if we spent half [as much as

Cristich] we’d win it.”

Campaign finance reports filed with the Secretary of State’s

office showed Cristich ended 2003 with $437,000 in cash, while DeVore

closed the year with $200,000.

Don Wagner was in third place, with $115,000 raised during 2003

and $80,000 cash on hand at the end of the year.

“Beyond question, I have enough money to get my message out, which

is what my campaign’s always been about,” Wagner said.

“My goal is to raise another $100,000 in the last two months of

the campaign when people are starting to focus on it.”

Marianne Zippi came next, with $83,000 raised last year and an

ending cash balance of close to $48,000.

Information was not available for Chonchol D. Gupta and Long K.

Pham, who are also seeking the 70th senate district seat.

In the race for the 35th district senate seat, 70th District

Assemblyman, John Campbell has twice as much in his coffers as his

Republican opponent, 68th District Assemblyman Ken Maddox.

Information was not available for Joe Snyder, who is also running for

the senate seat.

Campbell reported contributions totaling $760,000 for 2003, and he

closed the year with almost $482,000.

Maddox collected close to $307,000 during the last year and ended

with almost $295,000 in cash.

“[The reports are] continuing evidence that I have significantly

more support from the people in the community and he has significant

support from the people in unions,” Campbell said.

Among Maddox’s contributors were the California State Council of

Laborers and several police and firefighters’ organizations.

“I think that is indicative of who we will each represent in

office,” Campbell added.

Despite having raised only half as much as Campbell, Maddox said

he’s pleased with the amount he’s raised so far.

“I’m actually exceeding expectations and there’s still six weeks

to raise money and the checks are still coming,” he said.

Many of the unions that supported him are public safety

organizations, Maddox said. He added that a number of Campbell’s

contributions came from car dealerships. Campbell is a former owner

of a car dealership.

“He’s certainly the car dealers’ choice for the legislature, but I

think the voters need to kick the tires,” Maddox said.

In the 68th assembly district race, Garden Grove City Councilman

Van Tran reported contributions of $460,000 for 2003 and an ending

cash balance of $242,000. His opponent, fellow councilman Mark Leyes,

netted nearly $213,000 and closed 2003 with a little less than

$182,000.

* ALICIA ROBINSON covers business, politics and the environment.

She may be reached at (949) 764-4330 or by e-mail at

alicia.robinson@latimes.com.