ELECTIONS 36TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT : Braly Reports Builders Gave Less Than $10,000

In the 36th state Assembly District, which stretches from Santa Clarita through the Antelope Valley and includes most of Los Angeles County’s remaining open space, candidate Hunt Braly has been fighting the label of “developer pawn” since the very first candidate forum.

But campaign finance statements filed Thursday indicate that apparently only 9% of contributions to Braly came from developers--less than $10,000 of the $118,055 Braly received between March and May. However, one of his chief opponents--former Palmdale Mayor William J. (Pete) Knight--received more than 70% of his funds from development-related interests.

The pro-development charge was first leveled at Braly, state Sen. Ed Davis’ district representative, by rival candidate John Drew at a forum April 2. Drew, a College of the Canyons political science instructor and slow-growth advocate, challenged Braly and the other candidates to vow not to accept campaign contributions from developers.

None of them accepted his challenge.

Braly, Knight, Drew and five others are running in the Republican primary. They are expected to determine the eventual winner of the race to represent the district, which is 54% Republican. In the Democratic primary, Lancaster City Councilman Arnie Rodio is unopposed.

Braly’s campaign finance statement had not reached the county registrar-recorder’s office late Thursday, the filing deadline, but information on its contents was provided by his campaign manager, James Vaughn, who said the statement was to be filed immediately.

All three of the best-financed candidates in the race--Braly, Knight and Forrest McElroy, superintendent of the Palmdale Elementary School District--were spending most of their money on mailers, the reports showed.

Of the three, Knight received the largest amount from developers, builders, real estate agents and other firms that profit from development. He garnered at least $46,950 of his total $66,888 in cash contributions from those sources as well as more than $5,000 in in-kind contributions, including office space, a computer and furniture for his headquarters.

Knight has campaigned hard on his pro-growth stance and his record of fostering development while mayor. Interviewed earlier this month, he said: “Pro-growth is the best for the economy. If you don’t have growth, the economy falters. Your kids and your grandkids are going to grow up and they need houses.”

The largest contributor to Knight’s campaign was Rancho Vista Development Co. of Palmdale, which built part of a 6,000-unit housing project in western Palmdale while Knight was on the City Council. Rancho Vista and its president, Gregg Anderson, provided about $17,000 in cash and in-kind contributions.

McElroy, received $44,641 in contributions during the period, about a quarter of which came from school sources ranging from individual teachers to the Assn. of School Administrators Political Action Committee. Only about $5,000 of McElroy’s support came from development-related interests.