Cox, Rosenberg Top Fund-Raising List in 40th District Race

Both attorney C. Christopher Cox and businessman Nathan Rosenberg have raised more money than Irvine City Councilman C. David Baker in the race for the Republican nomination in the 40th Congressional District, although Baker has the backing of several local GOP leaders.

In statements filed Friday with the Federal Election Commission, Cox reported receiving contributions and loans totaling $348,775 for the period ending March 31. Rosenberg showed contributions of $343,779.71 in the same period, while Baker received $234,993.44.

The 40th District seat went up for grabs when Rep. Robert E. Badham (R-Newport Beach) announced in January that he would not seek a seventh term.

The 35-year-old Baker, a one-term council member, has been endorsed by Badham, state Sen. Marian Bergeson (R-Newport Beach) and Orange County Supervisor Thomas F. Riley, all of whom represent districts that include parts of the 40th Congressional District.

Nonetheless, Cox, a virtual unknown at the outset of the race, and Rosenberg, who finished a strong second in a bid two years ago to unseat Badham, have raised more money than Baker through the campaign’s first three months.

Expensive Primary

Based on the information in the campaign statements filed Friday, the June 7 primary, for which there are 12 candidates, may become the most expensive in county history.

Cox, former senior associate counsel to President Reagan, said he received $266,082 in contributions, $82,310 in loans and $383 in other receipts in the reporting period.

As of March 31, Cox said, he had $268,624 in unspent funds, compared to $190,138.81 for Baker and $119,871.01 for Rosenberg.

Cox, a Newport Beach resident, credited, among other things, his Washington ties for his fund-raising success, including a January dinner featuring embattled U.S. Supreme Court nominee Robert H. Bork that raised $100,000. Among his benefactors, Cox listed seven political action committees, including a pair of conservative, Washington-based Republican groups, Citizens for the Republic and the Conservative Victory Fund. The two groups contributed a total of $5,250.

The support from groups in Washington “suggests that important people in the capital believe I can do the job,� Cox said. To run successfully for Congress, he added, “takes money from all sources. . . .�

Rosenberg, viewed as a maverick in 1986 by some county Republicans when he challenged the incumbent in the primary, had raised $147,792.99 when Badham announced his retirement in January. By the end of last month, he had raised another $195,986.72 in contributions, including $165,000 from a fund-raising dinner at developer William Lyon’s estate in Coto de Caza, contribution reports showed.

Aides said Rosenberg also had another $77,910 in uncollected pledges as of March 31.

Members of Baker’s law firm, the Los Angeles-based firm of Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker, were the biggest single source of contributions to the councilman’s campaign. A total of $63,550--about a quarter of the $234,993 Baker has raised--came from attorneys in the firm, which has seven offices nationwide, including one in Washington.

Baker also received $32,050 from development and building interests, almost entirely in Orange County. While opposing the countywide slow-growth initiative, Baker has said growth must be slowed by reducing density in development.

In defending his support from development interests, Baker said: “If all my contributions were from that industry, I think it would send a message. But I have broad support. . . . “

Among registered voters in the district, Republicans outnumber Democrats 2 to 1, and the winner of the June 7 GOP primary is almost certain to succeed Badham.

Sizing up the race, Thomas A. Fuentes, chairman of the Republican Party of Orange County, said: “From the beginning I have been concerned that this would be a mega-buck, multimillion-dollar contest, and apparently that iswhat is developing. It may wind up being one of the all-time expensive races.�

Among the other nine Republican candidates still in the race, Peer Swan, an Irvine business executive, said he has raised $51,260, including $33,100 in loans to himself. William Yacobozzi Jr., a Newport Beach attorney, has $45,000, all in contributions or loans from himself.

Adam Kiernik, a Huntington Beach businessman, said he has received $25,000 in contributions, while commercial airline pilot John Hylton has raised $18,770 and Tustin City Councilman John F. Kelly has raised $15,000.

Patricia G. Kishel, a Laguna Hills management consultant; Kathleen B. Latham, an Irvine business consultant, and Larry F. Sternberg, a Santa Ana accountant, did not file contribution reports because they had not received more than $5,000 in contributions.

In the Democratic primary, Lida Lenny, a Laguna Beach councilwoman, said she had not raised more than $5,000 as of March 31, while George Henry Margolis, a Newport Beach hospital administrator, could not be reached for comment.

Also in the race are Libertarian Roger Bloxham of Newport Beach, and Peace and Freedom Party candidate Gretchen J. Farsai of Irvine. Neither could be be reached.