ELECTIONS / 43RD ASSEMBLY DISTRICT : GOP Leader Boosts Rogan’s Total to $377,000

Armed with a new $58,000 contribution from a Republican Party leader, state Assemblyman James Rogan (R-Glendale) has taken a big lead in fund-raising over his Democratic foe as the pair enter the final leg of their hotly contested campaign.

Rogan’s $58,000 donation from state Assemblyman Jim Brulte (R-San Bernadino), the Assembly Republican leader, was the standout contribution to Rogan during the last three weeks when, altogether, the assemblyman raised $117,710 in cash.

His Democratic challenger, Adam Schiff, a former federal prosecutor, received only $28,520 during the same period, Oct. 1 through Oct. 22.

Rogan, who gained the 43rd District Assembly seat during a May, 1994, special election to replace Pat Nolan after the veteran lawmaker was imprisoned on a political corruption charge, predicted, however, that Schiff will get some large, last-minute contributions from state Assembly Speaker Willie Brown.

“I think he’s going to get his money in the last 10 days--that’s how the speaker works,” Rogan said in an interview, referring to Brown’s practice of channeling large sums of money to promising Democratic campaigns in the final days of an election.

Contributions of $1,000 or more received after Oct. 22 are to be reported to state election authorities within 24 hours of their receipt.

The latest campaign finance statement did not reveal any further financial involvement by right-wing Christian groups in Rogan’s campaign. The assemblyman’s previous statement showed contributions of $25,000 each from Allied Business PAC, a group run by Christian businessmen, and from Bert Boeckmann, the owner of Galpin Ford, who has been involved in Christian fundamentalist causes and politics.

During the campaign, Rogan, a former Municipal Court judge, has espoused a strong, fundamentalist Christian agenda, including the teaching of creationism--alongside evolution--in the public schools and has enunciated a philosophical opposition to abortion.

The incumbent’s views and financial ties have prompted Schiff to brand Rogan as a tool of the radical right. Rogan has complained, in reply, that Schiff has waged a thinly veiled campaign of religious bigotry against him because of his views.

Many of Rogan’s biggest contributors during the last three weeks have come banking, insurance and business groups. Their contributions brought his total amount of contributions for the entire campaign, starting Jan. 1, to $377,000.

Schiff reported a total of $190,000 in contributions for the same period, beginning Jan. 1.

Many of Schiff’s largest contributions came from unions and law enforcement organizations. The California Teachers Assn. and the California State Council of Service Employees, for example, each gave Schiff $5,000 during the most recent financial reporting, while the Police Officers Research Assn. of California, the Los Angeles Police Protective League and the Los Angeles County Professional Peace Officers Assn. gave him $1,000 each.