Shriver Leads Fundraising Race

By Jorge Casuso

Oct. 6 -- Thanks to nearly 350 contributions -- some from major celebrities and power brokers -- challenger Bobby Shriver leads the fundraising race for City Council, garnering more than $100,000, according to the latest campaign finance disclosure statements.

Raised in less than one month -- and with a list of contributors that include Clint Eastwood, Michael Ovitz and David Geffen -- Shriver's $105,085 puts him on a pace to easily set a fundraising record since individual contributions were capped nearly 20 years ago.

In fact, Shriver, a member of the Kennedy family, amassed more than double what Santa Monicans for Renetrs' Rights raised in the latest filing period, which began on July 1 and ended September 30. By comparison, the politically powerful tenants group raised $35,240, bringing its total to date to $118,144.

Of the other seven candidates who had submitted their financial statements by 5:30 p.m. Tuesday afternoon (if mailed, the documents must bear a Tuesday post date), Michael Feinstein raised the second largest sum, followed by Matteo Dinolfo.

Feinstein, who is running as an independent after failing to win the SMRR endorsement, has raised $56,533, thanks in large part to a $36,744 loan and donations from nearly 200 contributors, nearly all of them from Santa Monica.

So far, Feinstein -- who was the top vote getter four years ago -- has spent $24,399, leaving him with an ending cash balance of $31,945 in his quest for a third council term.

Dinolfo, a physician who made an impressive showing in the council race two years ago, has raised $37,089, thanks to contributions from 163 supporters, most of whom gave the maximum $250. Sixty-five of the contributors are from Santa Monica.

Dinolfo, who, like Shriver, received the endorsement of the Chamber of Commerece, has spent $10,069, leaving him with $27,866 in hand and $16,950 in outstanding debts.

SMRR candidate Patricia Hofman has raised $9,473, including a $1,500 loan. The former school board president had $5,650 in hand after spending $3,637.

The two SMRR incumbents -- Mayor Richard Bloom and Councilman Ken Genser -- had raised $1,099 and $1,425 respectively. Bloom has spent no money, while Genser spent $560, leaving him with $1,166 in his campaign coffers as he seeks a record fifth term.

SMRR candidates don't need to raise large amounts of cash, since they can count on the group's hefty war chest and well-oiled political machine to run an independent campaign on their behalf.

The two members on the "Team for Change" slate, David Cole and Bill Bauer, raised $4,636 and $4,477 respectively. Cole, who made an unsuccessful bid for council four years ago spent $1,764, leaving him with $2,872. Bauer, a local political columnist, spent $2,003, leaving him with $2,474.

For his record pace, Shriver relied on 342 contributors, only 94 of whom live in Santa Monica. They included Housing and Urban Development head Henry Cisneros; Susan A. Buffet, daughter of billionaire Warren Buffet, and School Superintendent John Deasy.

Shriver spent $96,944, but had $74,051 in unpaid bills, leaving him with a cash balance of $82,192.

SMRR posted an ending balance of $57,549, after having spent a total of $89,067, $41,560 during the latest filing period.