BAMIEH OUTRAISES TOTTEN IN DA RACE.

Byline: Sabrina Decker Staff Writer

In the heated race for Ventura County district attorney, candidate Ron Bamieh so far has raised almost twice as much as his opponent, Greg Totten, the latest campaign disclosure statements show.

Bamieh has raised $313,000 so far for the March 5 election - including $239,000 from his father Sam Bamieh, a San Mateo businessman and major national GOP contributor, and former staffers of former President Bush, according to documents submitted by last week's filing deadline.

``My priorities are to have an efficient and effective office ... to focus on the prosecution of criminals and hopefully the healing and recuperation of victims,'' Bamieh said.

Totten has raised $178,000 so far, he said, mostly from contributors within Ventura County.

``I've got supporters who have given me as little as $10 and as much at $10,000,'' Totten said. ``I am grateful that I've built the relationships to have over 300 individual contributors to date.''

The two men are vying for the position being vacated by Michael Bradbury, who has said he will retire from office when his current term ends in January 2003.

Bradbury has endorsed Totten, his chief deputy and second-in-command, and has donated $750 to his campaign.

During the latest filing period from Oct. 1 to Dec. 31, Bamieh's list of donors included $500 from Lamar Alexander, U.S. secretary of education for former President Bush; $250 from Brent Scowcroft, national security adviser to former President Bush; and $500 from Robert Mosbacher, the former president's secretary of commerce.

He said he met these contributors while working primarily as a political appointee for the former president after finishing law school.

Bamieh also received $500 from Carmen Policy, president of the National Football League's Cleveland Browns.

Totten, a 19-year veteran of the DA's office, has also been endorsed by Ventura County Sheriff Bob Brooks, the Ventura County Deputy Sheriff's Association, Ventura County Supervisors John Flynn and Judy Mikels. Supervisor Kathy Long also endorsed him, and she and Supervisor Frank Schillo both donated $100.

Totten also received $5,000 from David Murdock, president of Dole Foods, headquartered in Westlake Village, and $1,000 from Thousand Oaks Mayor Ed Masry.

Both men take exception with the other's fund-raising strategy.

Bamieh said he is wary of accepting donations from people in the county, particularly donations over $50 from those over whom a DA would have influence.

``One of my concerns is always who is contributing to a political campaign,'' Bamieh said. ``I would never solicit money from people who work for me.''

However, Totten, who received contributions from supportive District Attorney's Office staff members, said that he took issue with the sums being raised by Bamieh from outside sources.

``I think it says that he doesn't have much local support,'' Totten said. ``And it's also an indication of where his focus really is, it's in Sacramento and Washington, D.C. If you look at where his support comes from, it comes from people outside this community.''