The nitty-gritty of giving

S.J. CAHN

For the past few weeks, I’ve focused on local donations made to the

various presidential candidates since the beginning of 2003.

Those, of course, tell just part of the story. In a community as

wealthy as Newport-Mesa, there’s much to be found in “soft money”

donations to the national political parties. They’re largely the

reason, for instance, that the Newport Beach ZIP Code 92660 is among

the top funding sources in the state and even the nation at $1.3

million through 1,061 gifts.

It also is a list of the area’s true big names and big

powerbrokers.

These numbers, via the Center for Responsive Politics, includes

the 2004 campaign cycle and all donations to candidates, political

action committees and the national and state parties.

In Newport’s big ZIP Code, there were 34 donations of $5,000 or

more. Topping the list are Don and Brigitte Bren, who have given

$50,000 a piece ($25,000 each in 2003 and again in 2004) to the

Republican National Committee.

Also contributing $25,000 in donations were Dale Dykema of T.D.

Service Financial, Don Koll of the Koll Co., Kelly Roberts of

Entrepreneurial Corp. Group, John Saunders of Saunders Properties and

Henry Segerstrom of South Coast Plaza fame. All were donations to

Republican causes.

In comparison, the state’s top ZIP Code, Beverly Hills, had 18

contributions of $25,000.

Newport’s 92663 ZIP Code produced 354 donations totaling $316,000.

They included five of $5,000 or more, including $10,000 from Lexus of

Westminster president Bob Longpre to the Automotive Free

International Trade PAC and $5,000 from New Majority chief Larry

Higby to the state Republican Party.

The 92625 ZIP Code, which includes Corona del Mar, totaled 405

donations for $402,000. There were seven greater than $5,000.

The Newport Coast ZIP Code of 92657 offered 236 donations totaling

$224,000. Interestingly, just one was $5,000 and a number were $500

or less.

Balboa Island residents ponied up an even 100 donations for

$160,000. That number included a $25,000 donation to the Republican

National Committee from Kathi Koll and $40,000 in donations from

Robert Eichenberg, listed alternately as retired and co-owner of

Ellison Education Equipment Inc. He has made a dozen other smaller

donations, as well.

In the Balboa Peninsula’s 92661 ZIP Code, there were 74 donations

equaling $74,000, with just two $5,000 ones. Two of the peninsula’s

most notable residents, Henry and Elizabeth Segerstrom, contributed

$2,000 a piece to Sen. Dianne Feinstein.

The story in Costa Mesa is a bit less extravagant. In the 92626

ZIP Code, there were 185 donations totaling $138,000. Milan Panic,

the founder of ICN Pharmaceuticals Inc. and, for a time, the leader

of Yugoslavia, accounted for a good part of that number with about

$40,000.

The city’s 92627 ZIP yielded 83 donations for $61,000. Horseman

Bob Lewis topped this particular list with a $5,000 donation to the

National Thoroughbred Racing Assn.

Just one of Newport-Mesa’s elected officials has donated money

this cycle. Costa Mesa Councilwoman Libby Cowan gave $500 to Sen.

Barbara Boxer in December and $500 to the Elections Committee of

Orange County.

* S.J. CAHN is the managing editor. He may be reached at (949)

574-4233 or by e-mail at s.j.cahn@latimes.com.