CEMEX AIDS ARNOLD WITH CHECK MINING CONCERN DONATING $15,000 TO INAUGURATION.

Byline: JUDY O'ROURKE Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA -- Cemex, which has locked horns with the city over a proposed 56.1-million-ton aggregate mine planned on the outskirts of town, has contributed $15,000 to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's inaugural.

The news comes weeks after Santa Clarita lobbied the governor to help defeat Cemex plans to mine in Soledad Canyon.

A representative of Cemex said Monday that the donation was simply a way for the Mexico-based conglomerate to support the event's festivities.

``Cemex in the U.S. operates Cemex in the U.S.,'' said Susana Duarte, a company spokeswoman. ``Our donation to the governor's inaugural is part of the celebration for his re- election, and as a significant employer in California we're proud to participate.''

The city of Santa Clarita has spent nearly $8 million battling the 177-acre Soledad Canyon mine due to open in 2008, and city officials are urging the governor to back them.

``The city is hoping the Governor's Office will help broker a settlement with Cemex, in that Cemex is looking for state permits to open the Soledad Canyon mine,'' said Gail Ortiz, a spokeswoman for the city.

In 2000, the federal government awarded Cemex's predecessor mining contracts for 20 years. The project is in county territory between Canyon Country and Agua Dulce, but the city has alleged that it would pollute the air and add heavy truck traffic to the Antelope Valley Freeway and local roads.

A nonpartisan Los Angeles-based think tank says donations often pave the way to access.

``They want to have good will or influence a decision,'' said Robert Stern, president of the Center for Governmental Studies. ``If they don't have something pending in the jurisdiction they are unlikely to contribute. It's a business decision; they have to justify it as a business decision.''

Legislation introduced by U.S. Rep. Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon, R-Santa Clarita, fizzled in the 109th Congress but Ortiz said the city will prevail on Schwarzenegger to support a new measure that is in the works.

``We're looking for backing from the Governor's Office to help protect a California city,'' Ortiz said.

The city complained before Schwarzenegger met with officials from 10 companies including Cemex during his trade mission to Mexico in November.

Cemex operates roughly 15 quarries, cement plants and Ready Mix facilities in California, and employs about 2,600 people directly and almost 6,000 indirectly. Duarte said the company is supporting inaugurals in other states where Cemex does business.

``We're supporting the democratic process and that is why you contribute to events like an inaugural,'' she said.

Cemex contributed $5,000 to the governor's re-election campaign.

A private group undertaking fundraising for the inaugural event has netted about $640,000 from donors. Schwarzenegger will be sworn in for a second term Jan. 5.

judy.orourke(at)dailynews.com

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