Padilla Leads in Raising Funds for Council Race

LOS ANGELES — Money from unions and allies of Mayor Richard Riordan helped Alex Padilla’s campaign for the 7th City Council District raise twice as much as rival Corinne Sanchez.

Padilla has also gone $186,000 into debt, he reported Friday. That debt signals that Padilla believes he will win the June 8 runoff election, said campaign manager Rick Taylor.

“We feel confident we’re going to win and we’re willing to make the sacrifice now,” said Taylor, who is among those who have not been fully paid for his services.

Padilla received 48% of the vote in the April primary election, compared with 25% for Sanchez. The two are battling it out for the northeast San Fernando Valley’s council seat.

In all, Padilla reported raising about $100,600 and spending $171,400 as of May 22, according to a statement filed with the city Ethics Commission. The debt from the runoff is in addition to $107,000 in unpaid bills from the primary election.

Padilla’s campaign expenditures do not include $29,000 spent so far by the county Federation of Labor’s political arm in an independent campaign on his behalf.

In comparison, Sanchez reported raising and spending about $49,000.

Asked if she has enough money to close the gap in the election, Sanchez said, “Absolutely not, and we’re pushing hard.”

Sanchez said personal contact with voters will be the key to the election.