CALLING ALL VALLEY LAWMAKERS: TAKE OUR MONEY.

Byline: Mitch Rheingold

I have a simple request to make of the politicians running for office here in the San Fernando Valley, now that their election campaigns are starting to heat up: Call home.

Why? Because it seems that when politicians are dialing for dollars to finance their election campaigns, they are calling long distance. Their fingers are doing the walking to Sacramento, Orange County, Wall Street . . . instead of Sherman Oaks, Woodland Hills, Northridge or Calabasas.

In the last election, 80 percent of the funds raised by the candidates running for the Legislature in the San Fernando Valley came from outside districts they supposedly want to represent: a total of $2,727,561.

That's ridiculous. It's undemocratic. And it shouldn't surprise anyone that, when seeking advice on how to vote on issues that affect us, our representatives are taking a lot more calls for the 916, 714 and 212 area codes instead of 818.

We San Fernando Valley voters aren't the only ones who should feel so neglected. Statewide, 80 percent of the money that fuels campaigns for the state Legislature comes from outsiders.

But the San Fernando Valley seems to be a particularly popular address for checks from Sacramento-based PACs, Orange County developers and other fat cats. For example, in the 43rd Assembly district race in 1994, James Rogan and Adam Schiff took more than $780,000 from outside sources.

This may be great news for special interest groups and great business for the TV stations that run the negative ads that special interest money pays for.

But it's nothing but bad news for the ordinary people of Sherman Oaks, Reseda and Agoura Hills. The time and energy that our representatives should be devoting to improving our kids' education is going instead to pushing for special favors for big money supporters. The tax dollars that should be going to protect our environment and keep our streets safe is being diverted to tax breaks for the well-connected.

The solution to this problem is clear: We need to cut the phone lines leading out of town.That's why I support Proposition 212. It simply requires politicians to raise at least 75 percent of their campaign funds within their districts. Or, to put it another way, it prohibits candidates from taking more than 25 percent of their funds from outsiders.

If Proposition 212's ``out-of-district'' limit had been in effect in 1994, it would have cut out $45,298,307 of the $82,925,057 raised by the general election legislative candidates - 55 percent of the total, almost all special-interest money.

Some political consultants may complain, but limiting these outside contributions is only fair. After all, I'm not allowed to cast my ballot in Sacramento to elect their state senator. So why should someone from Sacramento have so much influence on who represents me?They shouldn't, and that's why we need the serious, far-reaching reform of Proposition 212.

By the way, if there's any local candidate out there willing to join me in voting yes on Proposition 212 and to limit his or her out-of-district contributions to 25 percent, I have an offer to make: Call me.

I've got $25 ready to contribute to someone's worthy campaign.

MEMO: Mitch Rheingold is a longtime resident of the San Fernando Valley and former president of the Sherman Oaks Democratic Club.