Campaign fundraising exceeds $1 million

Half a dozen candidates are expected to be on the ballot in the June Democratic primary for the 41st California Assembly District. The seat is currently held by Agoura Hills resident Fran Pavley.

The heavily Democratic district includes Calabasas, Agoura Hills, Westlake Village, Oak Park, Hidden Hills, Malibu, Woodland Hills, Oxnard, Tarzana, Encino, Pacific Palisades and Port Hueneme.

At the end of 2005, the candidates already had raised over $1 million, according to campaign finance reports.

Barry Groveman, the 52-yearold mayor of Calabasas leads the fundraising with $452,000 and has approximately $400,000 available for his campaign.

Groveman, an environmental attorney, recently received an endorsement from California Superintendent Jack O’Connell, who worked with Groveman on the passage of Proposition 65, the state’s Safe Drinking Water Act.

Groveman’s other endorsements include U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, Ventura County Superintendent Dr. Chuck Weis, Las Virgenes Unified School District Vice President Terilyn Finders and Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Board Member Shane McLoud.

Jonathan Levey, 55, of Santa Monica raised $379,000 last year and has more than $331,000 on hand.

Levey is an attorney and a business law teacher at California State University, Channel Islands. He also served as volunteer counsel to former Assembly Speaker Bob Hertzberg’s commission to study the ballot initiative process.

Mel Levine, the former congressman whose district comprised 60 percent of the 41st, and State Sen. Jack Scott of Pasadena are among Jonathan Levey’s supporters.

Julia Brownley, 53, of Santa Monica raised $189,000 in 2005 and has $199,000 available for her campaign this year.

Brownley is a member of the Malibu-Santa Monica School Board.

State Sen. Sheila Kuehl of Santa Monica is endorsing Brownley. Pavley, after learning that former Agoura Hills Councilmember Louise Rishoff dropped out of the race, said she’d also endorse Brownley.

Kelly Hayes-Raitt, 44, of Santa Monica raised $172,000 in 2005 with about $129,000 available.

Hayes-Raitt is a founder of the Santa Monica environmental group Heal the Bay and serves as the West Coast Director of the National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League.

Actor and activist Martin Sheen and other celebrities of the district are supporting HayesRaitt. The National Women’s Political Caucus is also supporting her.

Shawn Casey O’Brien, 50, of Santa Monica didn’t raise enough money to file a campaign finance report.

O’Brien, who’s the son of a former Michigan state senator, hosts a radio show called “Access Unlimited,” which raises disability awareness. He was born with cerebral palsy and is an advocate for the disabled.

Tony Dolz is running as the only Hispanic candidate on the ballot.