$7,000 SENT TO OKLAHOMA CONGRESSMAN CIVIC LEADERS URGED TO CONTRIBUTE.

Byline: Heather MacDonald Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - Santa Clarita residents gave U.S. Rep. Ernest Istook Jr. $7,000 for his 2004 re-election campaign after the Oklahoma congressman set aside millions of dollars in federal money for the city's cross-valley connector, according to records filed with the Federal Election Commission.

U.S. Rep. Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon helped his fellow Republican raise the money at a luncheon in April after Istook toured the planned route of the 8.5-mile road.

McKeon's chief of staff, Bob Cochran, later apologized at the time for urging civic leaders and city officials to contribute to Istook while reminding them that as the chairman of the House Appropriations subcommittee on transportation, Istook would have great influence on whether the project received much-needed federal funding.

Several members of the Santa Clarita Valley Transportation Alliance said Cochran told them the road would not be funded unless they contributed to Istook's re-election campaign. Cochran denied saying that.

Arthur Sohikian, co-chairman of the Alliance, and his wife, Annee, each gave Istook $500 on May 15. Sohikian, a lobbyist and consultant, declined to comment Thursday.

Randy Wrage, a developer with Spirit Properties, said he and his wife, Kristy, gave Istook a total of $4,000 on the same day to make sure the Republican congressman would give the cross-valley connector ample consideration.

``I support those who support our community,'' Wrage said. ``It's in my best interest to be active in that way.''

Other contributions to Istook included $500 each from Louis and Rita Garasi and $1,000 from Lance K. Williams.

Last month, the House approved $3 million for the thoroughfare that will provide a new east-west route across the Santa Clarita Valley and link the Golden State and Antelope Valley freeways. The Senate has yet to act on the appropriations bill, which must be signed by President George W. Bush.

Santa Clarita contributed the fourth-largest amount of any city to Istook's re-election campaign, which received most of its money from outside Oklahoma, according to data compiled by Center Responsive Politics.

``While it's not a huge amount of money, it is a little unusual for an out-of-state congressman to get so much money from a small town not known for being a money center,'' said Doug Weber, a researcher for the Center for Responsive Politics.

In fact, Istook received more money from local residents than did Bush, who also faces re-election in 2004, Weber said.

Istook's campaign manager could not be reached Wednesday, and his congressional spokeswoman declined to comment on the matter.

Heather MacDonald, [phone]

heather.macdonald(at)dailynews.com