RECALL DRIVE SPENT CLOSE TO $68,000 : ZEANAH BLASTS BUILDER BACKING.

Byline: Enrique Rivero Daily News Staff Writer

A group seeking to oust Elois Zeanah has spent nearly $68,000 in its effort to unseat the beleaguered councilwoman, more than twice what it has taken in contributions and loans, according to documents released by the group Friday.

From Jan. 3 through March 31, Yes! Remove Elois Zeanah has collected nearly $33,000 in contributions and owes nearly $55,000 - with a big chunk of its expenses going to cover its defense of a lawsuit filed by Zeanah against the effort. The group's leader said that the deficit should be covered by future donations.

Most of the money came from individuals and small businesses, said recall leader Pete Turpel, countering frequent claims by Zeanah and others that the recall group is backed by big developers hoping to unseat the councilwoman for her slow-growth stance.

Individual donations mostly ranged from a low of $50 to one contributor called Open Space Ltd. giving $5,000. The bulk of the contributions were around $1,000.

According to Zeanah, however, most of the contributors are tied with development interests and are not ``concerned homeowners and local business'' as she said the recall group claims.

``The contributions are coming from the development community, clients of development attorney Chuck Cohen and from out-of-town interests,'' she said.

She also pointed out that $14,500 in loans has come from BTR Inc., owned by Jill Lederer, former campaign manager for Councilman Andy Fox, who is frequently on opposite sides of land-use votes as Zeanah.

In addition, BTR also paid nearly $25,000 for photocopies, buttons and signs for the group, according to the documents.

``This is not grass-roots at all,'' Zeanah said. ``This is big money, and it's about development.''

Among the recall group's expenses are $15,600 in legal fees in its unsuccessful defense against Zeanah's suit to disqualify the first round of petitions on a technicality. A judge ruled in Zeanah's favor on Feb. 28. Yes! Remove Elois Zeanah is circulating a new set of petitions to qualify the recall for the ballot.

Contributors include Robert Haaland, a self-employed engineer who has had projects before the city and who donated $1,000; Moshe Silagi, a self-employed property manager who pitched in $300; and land-use consultant Virginia Davis, who donated $1,000.