CANDIDATES COMPARE COFFERS SOME COUNCIL RIVALS TAKE SHOTS AT WAR CHESTS.

Byline: Harrison Sheppard Staff Writer

Greig Smith, a candidate for City Council from the northwest San Fernando Valley, has raised more than $282,000 for the March election, according to campaign finance reports released Friday, putting his war chest ahead of every other council candidate in the Valley.

Smith's rivals in the 12th District race accused him of relying on money from developers and other special interests, saying Councilman Hal Bernson's long-time chief of staff will be beholden to them if he wins.

``When you look to see who his contributors are, they're all downtown interests and special interest groups,'' said candidate Julie Korenstein, a current school board member.

``That's no surprise. I don't think anyone expected any less than a huge amount of money coming from downtown special interests. This is why the San Fernando Valley has been so aggravated with the city. We want someone who represents our views, not downtown.''

Korenstein has raised $50,000, while former Assemblywoman Paula Boland has raised $31,000.

The other candidates in the six-person race are builder Robert Vinson, who raised $51,000; Norman Huberman, an educator and businessman from Northridge, who has raised no money; and Northridge businessman Walter Prince, who loaned his committee $2,000.

The candidates are vying to succeed Councilman Hal Bernson, who is leaving office because of term limits. Smith has taken a leave of absence from Bernson's staff to campaign.

Internal polls conducted by the Boland and Korenstein campaigns concur that Boland is ahead in public support, with Korenstein a close second and Smith a distant third.

Smith started raising money last March. Korenstein launched her campaign just two months ago, while Boland was splitting her time with the Nov. 5 Valley secession election, during which she ran for Valley City Council and finished with more votes than any council candidate in the 14 council races. Because secession lost, the seat she won does not exist.

Smith said those who criticize him for getting developer and special interest money are simply jealous.

``They tried'' to get the same funds, he said. ``They solicited the same people I solicited.''

He added that about a quarter of his donations are from within the district. Smith said campaign contributions won't buy his vote, but he acknowledged they do help with access.

``They don't have influence. They have the ability to pick up the phone and say, 'Remember me? I gave you money.' That's what they have anyway. They do that to have the opportunity to talk to you.''

Ultimately, he added, ``You have to make the decision about what's right for the community.''

Boland said she isn't worried about her fund-raising lag because she has name recognition in the district.

``Any race I've ever won, I've never looked at another candidate,'' Boland said. ``I've looked at what I've needed. That's the way I'm going to run this race. I'll raise enough money to win. That's all that's important.''

In other Valley races, Assemblyman Tony Cardenas, who is seeking the Northeast Valley's 6th District seat, has raised $262,000, while his rival, businessman Jose Roy Garcia has raised about $1,500.

Garcia, who said he intends to loan his campaign $7,000 to $10,000, said he is not intimidated by Cardenas' war chest.

``It is a lot of money - but I'm clean. I have no contact with any big interests. We're the people.''

Cardenas said he is still campaigning hard despite his advantage in fund raising and name recognition.

``I don't take anything for granted,'' Cardenas said. ``We're knocking on doors, making phone calls.''

Councilman Tom LaBonge, whose fourth district straddles the Valley and Hollywood, has raised $90,000 for his re-election bid, while information for his challenger, film producer Derek Milosavljevic, was not available.

Councilwoman Wendy Greuel, who is unopposed for re-election, raised $81,000.