D.A. ASKED TO PROBE CASTAIC CAMPAIGN WINNER'S SON USED FREE MILITARY MAIL TO SEND FLIERS WHILE IN IRAQ.

Byline: ALEX DOBUZINSKIS Staff Writer

County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich has asked the district attorney to investigate the use of the Army's free mail system by a reservist who sent campaign mailers for his father, a member of the Castaic Lake Water Agency board.

But Antonovich aides stressed that his written request was routine, stemming from a letter he received from constituent Jan Heidt, who ran for a seat on the board but lost to incumbent Ed Colley.

Colley's son, Alan, used free military mail to send 1,200 letters from Iraq urging voters to support his father. Alan Colley was a lieutenant with the Army Reserve, and critics charged that the letter was a misuse of public funds.

Heidt, who lost to Colley in a close election, sent a complaint to the state Fair Political Practices Commission and forwarded a copy to Antonovich. The supervisor sent on the copy to District Attorney Steve Cooley along with a two-paragraph letter, dated Nov. 22, asking Cooley to ``investigate this matter.''

``We get questions throughout the day, probably hundreds, (about) things like dogs, to potholes, to planning matters. We refer it to the appropriate agency,'' said Bob Haueter, an Antonovich aide. ``That's really what this was.''

Colley said there was nothing legally wrong with what his son did, but he said he sent the military $468 this week -- or 39 cents a letter for the 1,200 letters -- to avoid any ``appearance of impropriety'' concerning the mailer.

``I have talked to multiple lawyers and it's been well researched,'' Colley said. ``Legally, there is no problem.''

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