Governor Has Big Fund Lead Over Bradley

SACRAMENTO — Gov. George Deukmejian collected $2.7 million in campaign contributions in less than three months this year, leaving him comfortably ahead of his Democratic challenger, Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley, in the scramble for campaign funds, according to disclosure reports released Tuesday.

The Republican governor drew on a large number of corporations and individuals with a strong interest in pending legislation or state regulations in a fund-raising effort that left him with $5.3 million in the bank compared to only $1 million for Bradley.

Altogether, the governor has raised $7.4 million since the start of 1985 compared to Bradley’s $1.4 million.

A detailed review of the two candidates’ latest filings, which cover the amounts collected from Jan. 1 through March 17, shows Deukmejian far ahead in the number of individual contributions of $10,000 or more.

In fact, most of the money Deukmejian has collected for his campaign this year--about $2 million--has come in donations of $1,000 or more.

The Deukmejian committee reported receiving more than 90 donations of $10,000 or more--primarily from large corporations, including insurance firms, banks, developers and oil companies. The governor also continues to enjoy strong support from prominent members of the Armenian community.

In contrast, only 13 Bradley contributors put up $10,000 in the same period.

Deukmejian’s early start in fund raising has several advantages, the records show. It allowed the governor to spend $792,825 for a recent blitz of television advertising. And he has been spending a considerable amount on mailers, fund raisers and a large staff intended to keep the dollars rolling in as November approaches.

Interest Earned

With more than $5 million in the bank, the Deukmejian campaign earned $52,420 in interest alone in less than three months this year.

The governor’s supporters say privately that they hope their early fund-raising success will make it even more difficult for Bradley to raise the money needed to run an effective campaign.

For the most part, the Deukmejian campaign owes its largess in recent months to 720 contributors, each of whom gave at least $1,000 to his campaign.

The governor’s largest donors were Mercury Casualty Co., which gave $30,000; Los Angeles attorney Neil Papiano, $26,500; Atlantic Richfield Co., $20,000; and the California Correctional Peace Officers Assn., $20,000.

The list of who gave Deukmejian $10,000 or more is very long indeed, including BankAmerica Corp., First Interstate Bank of California, Surety Company of the Pacific, E & J Gallo Winery, the Los Angeles Turf Club, Southern Pacific Transportation and Rockwell International.

Donors for Bradley

The shorter list of those who gave Bradley $10,000 or more includes Los Angeles attorney Richard Riordan, $25,000; industrialist Frederick Field, $15,000; Denver entrepreneur Marvin Davis, $15,000; and Los Angeles City Councilman Gilbert Lindsay’s political action committee, $10,000.

Several contributors gave equal amounts to both candidates, including the New York brokerage firm of Salomon Bros., $10,000 to each; and R&B; Enterprises, which also gave $10,000 to each.

Deukmejian has received a number of donations of $1,000 or more from companies dealing in waste disposal, and three $5,000 contributions from executives of Assert, a nonprofit group that receives federal job training money.