COMMISSIONERS FACE LAST-MINUTE FUND-RAISING PRESSURE PRIOR TO BAN.

Byline: Rick Orlov Staff Writer

Several Los Angeles city commissioners said Thursday that they are being pressured to raise money now for elected officials before a ban on fund-raising activities takes effect April 11.

Representatives of Mayor James Hahn and several City Council members have called commissioners and asked them to fulfill earlier promises to host events to raise campaign contributions for the 2005 election.

``The Mayor's Office didn't call me, but I did hear from several council members reminding me there is only a month left,'' Police Commissioner David Cunningham said.

Hahn signed the ban into law Tuesday, only hours after it was approved by the City Council. It prohibits all 350 city commissioners from hosting fund-raisers or even providing names of potential donors for such events.

Annette Castro, who heads fund raising for the mayor, declined to comment on calls that were made.

But others said commissioners who had volunteered to host events had been contacted and asked to proceed.

Several commissioners, who asked not to be identified, said they were pleased that the new measures are taking effect.

``It's been difficult to say no to people,'' said one commissioner, long active in civic affairs. ``This just makes it a lot easier to do this job without that kind of pressure.''

Before the law takes effect April 11, the city Ethics Commission is planning to hold some informational meetings for city officials on its impact.

``We are going to send out invitations to all boards and commissioners to offer an update on this and our overall ethics training to explain conflicts of interest and the ethics laws,'' Ethics Commission spokeswoman Barbara Freeman said.

Rick Orlov, [phone]

rick.orlov(at)dailynews.com