Local Financier Is Key Player in Bush Fund-Raising Effort.

Chief among the L.A. Republicans who took off last week for the party's convention in Philadelphia is the man in charge of raising money for George W. Bush's California campaign: Brad Freeman, a founding partner at L.A. private equity firm Freeman Spogli & Co.

Freeman, a friend of Bush's since the days before Bush entered politics, heads up the fund-raising arm of the Bush campaign in California, chaired by Gerald Parsky. His efforts drummed up a substantial amount of money for a party that has traditionally all but abandoned California during the presidential fund-raising effort, a fact that may reap benefits for the state if Bush is elected.

Freeman led a drive that raised an estimated $10 million of California money for the Bush for President coffers. The last two Republican presidential candidates, including Bush's father, were only able to raise a fraction of that here.

Freeman dismisses suggestions that George W. is only interested in the state for its money, and said Bush will be back in California the week after the convention.

"He's in California and he's here to (be a player)," said Freeman, speaking from his offices at Freeman Spogli before jetting off last week to the Republican National Convention, which kicks off July 31.

The fact that Bush placed his longtime friend in charge of raising money is a strong indication of the trust the candidate places in him, said Rep. Chris Cox, R-Newport Beach, whose name until last week was being tossed around as a possible vice presidential candidate.

"It's the most important campaign job in the most important race in the biggest state in the country, "Cox said. "He is a close personal friend of George W. Bush. He is enormously talented and a successful manager. Those are collectively everything one could desire in a campaign chief."

Tom Tellessen, a classmate of Bush's at business school along with Freeman's partner Ron Spogli, gives Freeman full credit for his fund-raising success, especially given the party's past problems in California.

"To be able to deliver in that kind of an environment has got to be a major challenge," said Tellessen, a private investor and real estate developer who serves on Bush's finance and state steering committees. "I think he would definitely deserve to be offered a key role (in the Bush administration)."

But Freeman is reluctant to speak much about himself or his relationship to Bush. He constantly draws the conversation back to the candidate.

Freeman speaks highly of Bush and echoes many of his campaign themes, such as the need to improve children's reading ability. But after 20 years, it's Bush's friendship that has Freeman manning the phones.

"He's fun," said Freeman, who often spends time with Bush on the campaign trail and makes his way out to Bush's ranch in Texas. "There's no one I'd rather hang out with."

Freeman also has long been a supporter of former California Gov. Pete Wilson and L.A. Mayor Richard Riordan, holding many events at his home over the years. Riordan once had top billing at Freeman's firm when it was known as Riordan Freeman Spogli & Co.

"(Freeman) is not a party person," Tellessen said. "He's much more involved with the individual (candidate)."

A friend since Spogli introduced him to Bush in 1979 in Midland, Texas, Freeman has also been enlisted by the candidate to co-chair the convention's fund-raising gala taking place Aug. 2 in Philadelphia. Freeman figures that with 2,500 people on hand, the event will rake in $7 million for the campaign.

Of course, nothing brings in the money like a chance to meet the candidate himself. The first California fund-raiser was in June 1999, when Bush swirled through the state on a two-and-a-half day tour.

In one day, Bush had breakfast in San Diego and lunch in Orange County, topped off by a 2,000-person dinner at the Century Plaza Hotel in Century City. Then it was on to Silicon Valley.

"We try to get him out here as often as possible," Freeman said. "He's got 50 states to be concerned about."