MCKEON AIDE SAYS HE ERRED FUND RAISING LED TO CRITICISM.

Byline: Heather MacDonald Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - U.S. Rep. Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon's chief of staff apologized Wednesday for urging Santa Clarita leaders to contribute to the re-election campaign of an Oklahoma congressman who could award the city's planned cross-valley connector millions of dollars in federal money.

Bob Cochran said he regretted explicitly linking Rep. Ernest Istook Jr.'s tour of the 8.5-mile road on April 18 with a luncheon fund-raiser later that same day at the Hyatt Valencia.

``In retrospect, I should have been more careful,'' Cochran said. ``The two events should have been separated.''

Several members of the Santa Clarita Valley Transportation Alliance told the Daily News that Cochran suggested at a March 20 meeting that the connector would not be funded unless they contributed to Istook's 2004 re-election campaign.

``I understand (Cochran) was trying to draw attention to a worthy project,'' said Connie Worden Roberts, chairwoman of the alliance. ``I think it was the wrong way to go about it. Perhaps (Cochran) got carried away with his enthusiasm.''

About 25 people attended the $1,000-a-plate luncheon after a presentation from city officials and a brief tour of the connector's winding route, according to several people who attended the fund-raiser.

Istook's campaign manager could not be reached Wednesday, and his congressional spokeswoman declined to comment on the matter.

Cochran said he wanted the group to be aware of the fund-raiser and Istook's importance in securing money for the road, which will relieve congestion by providing an east-west route across the Santa Clarita Valley.

``I never meant to strong-arm anyone,'' Cochran said. ``There was no quid pro quo.''

Worden Roberts and other alliance members said they were pleased with Cochran's apology.

``The fact that everything was tied together didn't sit well with people,'' said Duane Harte, a member of the alliance. ``I want to make sure that we get the funds we need for the road, but none of us wants to be held hostage.''

Istook, R.-Okla., chairs the House appropriations subcommittee on transportation and will have great influence on whether $8 million, which is needed to build an elevated interchange at Golden Valley Road and Soledad Canyon Road, will be set aside for the project in next year's budget.

``Istook is in a much more competitive district than (McKeon is), and we wanted to help his re-election effort,'' Cochran said. ``Congressman McKeon wants to continue to serve in the majority party.''

McKeon's request faces plenty of competition in the House, which will distribute at least $30 billion in transportation money in next year's budget. The 435 House members have made more than 5,300 requests for federal funds to help finance local road, rail and transit projects.

Jim Knox, executive director of California Common Cause, a watchdog group, said the practice of members of Congress hosting fund-raisers for fellow lawmakers in their home districts is not unusual.

As of April 15, Istook raised $98,374 and has $68,089 on hand, according to reports filed with the Federal Election Commission. Any contributions the Istook campaign received in Santa Clarita are not required to be reported until July 15.