West Hollywood : Candidates Report Spending

Paul Koretz spent nearly twice as much as any other candidate in capturing one of two at-large West Hollywood City Council seats last April, according to records filed with the city clerk.

Koretz, a former aide to ex-Mayor Alan Viterbi, who did not seek reelection, spent $66,189 in garnering 3,429 votes, the second highest number of votes among the five candidates. Abbe Land, who easily won reelection with 4,226 votes, reported having spent $36,450, the records show.

Community activist Ruth Williams, who finished third with 1,619 votes, spent $23,602 in her third unsuccessful bid to gain a seat on the five-member council. Last-place finisher Teresa Garay, a community-relations executive for a local TV station, reported expenditures of $12,918. She received 606 votes.

Steve Michael, the publisher of a community newspaper who had 673 votes to finish fourth, has not filed a campaign disclosure statement, which was due Aug. 1 as required by state law, City Clerk Mary Tyson said.

A spokesman for the state’s Fair Political Practices Commission, which is responsible for enforcing the law, has indicated no action will be taken against Michael since he was “not a viable candidate.”