Parks builds fund-raising lead over Ridley-Thomas

Los Angeles City Councilman Bernard C. Parks raised nearly twice as much money as state Sen. Mark Ridley-Thomas in their heated contest for a seat on the county Board of Supervisors, campaign finance reports posted on Tuesday show.

Parks collected more than $300,000 between Jan. 1 and March 17 for his effort to replace retiring Supervisor Yvonne B. Burke. That brings his total to nearly $600,000. Ridley-Thomas (D-Los Angeles) raised about $185,000 in the same period, bringing his total to $354,000.

The reports, the first due since the close of the filing period for the June 3 primary, can be found on the website of the Los Angeles County registrar-recorder, www.lavote.net.

None of the seven other candidates in the race reported raising or spending more than $1,000.

Parks had about $387,000 in cash by the close of the reporting period, and Ridley-Thomas had about $171,000 left, the reports show.

The two are considered the main contenders in a crowded field to replace Burke in the 2nd Supervisorial District, which runs south from mid-Los Angeles and includes Carson and Compton.

The 2nd District race is the only county contest on the June ballot to generate a great deal of interest, although Dist. Atty. Steve Cooley is being challenged by Steve Ipsen, president of the Assn. of Deputy District Attorneys.

Neither of the two supervisors seeking reelection, Mike Antonovich of District 5 and Don Knabe of District 4, have drawn significant opposition. Nonetheless, Antonovich has raised $396,000, and Knabe has taken in $443,000.

Although Parks has raised more than Ridley-Thomas, the state senator is expected to get considerable help from labor unions, which can provide telephone banks and precinct walkers, as well as send political mailers and offer other campaign assistance.

“Our campaign will be very significant in terms of what we do on the ground,” Ridley-Thomas said.

Parks’ campaign representatives did not return a call for comment.

The business community -- restaurant and hotel owners, developers and real estate agents, bankers and investors -- accounted for much of Parks’ contributions, most of them donating the maximum of $1,000 each.

Kenneth T. Lombard, an executive for Starbucks, as well as Guess Inc. co-founders Armand and Maurice Marciano, gave $1,000 apiece.

Ridley-Thomas parlayed some of his recent endorsements from several unions into contributions.

Labor groups representing food workers, plumbers, state employees and sprinkler fitters all gave $1,000 contributions through their political action committees. Other contributors to Ridley-Thomas included Dodgers owners Frank and Jamie McCourt, who each gave $1,000.

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