RETIREE RAISES $19,294; HOPEFULS FOR HOSPITAL BOARD REVEAL CAMPAIGN DONATIONS.

Byline: Karen Maeshiro Daily News Staff Writer

Retired physician Donald Bean leads all candidates in campaign fund raising in the race for two seats on the Antelope Valley Hospital board.

Bean has so far raised $19,294, most of it from physicians, and has spent $11,471, according to reports filed with county election officials.

``It means that people have known me for a long time,'' said Bean, who retired as medical director of the AV Medical Group in 1996 and who backed candidates in the 1994 hospital board race. ``The doctors recognize I have supported them in the past. They are happy to support me at the present time.''

Five people are running for two seats Nov. 3 on the hospital board, which presently is split between the majority of Shirley Sayles, Dr. John Manning and Larry Chimbole and the minority of Steve Fox and Deborah Rice.

In the past year the split has shown in the controversy over former hospital administrator Bob Harenski and his six-figure salary.

In September, nine months after extending Harenski's contract another four years, the board gave him a $275,000 buyout to leave. Board members Fox and Rice opposed extending Harenski's contract.

Besides the contributions from physicians, Bean's reports for the first campaign filing period show support from Fox and Rice, whose terms are not up for re-election, and from former board member Larry Parker.

Sayles, the only incumbent seeking re-election, got financial contributions from fellow board member Chimbole, who like Fox and Rice is not up for re-election; from Manning, who is retiring from the board, and from local business people, including former hospital board member Hank Marvin.

Candidate Gary Hill, the Lancaster city finance director and No. 2 campaign fund-raiser so far, lists contributions from Fox, local physicians, city officials and business people.

Campaign contribution and spending reports were filed with the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder's Office and cover the period from January through Sept. 30.

Hill raised $8,275 and spent $7,330 so far, his reports said. Sayles received contributions totaling $5,137 and spent $2,278. Dr. John Birsner Sr. has raised more than $1,000, according to his business manager, but his campaign report had not been received by the Oct. 5 deadline. Urologist Dr. Tim Hadaya said he does not intend to raise or spend more than $1,000.

A sixth candidate, Stan Pearson, has dropped out of the race but his name will appear on the ballot.

One of Bean's largest contributions was $5,000 from the Antelope Valley Neuroscience Medical Group, of which former hospital board member Dr. Harvey Birsner - son of John Birsner Sr. - was a partner.

In the 1994 election, Bean founded the Committee to Cure Antelope Valley Hospital, a group that backed the younger Birsner and attorney R. Rex Parris. Birsner was elected but Parris was not.

Bean received another $5,000 contribution from Dr. M.Z. Lameer. Other contributors include Lancaster Cardiology Medical Group, $1,000; Affordable Tires, $1,000; Dr. T. Sri, $1,000; former board member Parker, $1,000; Dr. Robert Lawrence, $200; hospital board member Rice, $200; and $100 each from board member Fox, Dr. John Beck, Dr. Leonard Kurian; dentist Les Kurian, and Dr. Jack Copeland.

Bean also loaned his campaign $2,500, and received $894 in contributions of less than $100, which do not have to be itemized.

Bean spent funds to be included in political ``slate'' mailings including ones called California Voter Guide, Your Ballot Guide, Citizens for Representative Government, Voter Information Guide, and the Non-Partisan Candidate Evaluation Council Inc., plus broadcast and outdoor advertising, and a booth at a health fair.

Hill's contributors include Lancaster Cardiology Medical Group, $1,000; Dr. M.Z. Lameer, $1,000; Dr. Anil Kumar, $250; Dr. Eugene Rajaratnam, $250; and $100 each from Fox, Dr. Richard Elton, John Massari of Insurance Associates, Lancaster Mayor Frank Roberts, Lancaster City Hall executive secretary Maureen Reilly, Dr. Brit Smith, and Pat Sileo of Hi Desert Answering Bureau.

Hill also reported $2,075 in contributions of less than $100, and $3,000 in loans to his campaign. He spent funds on a campaign statement, slate mailers including the Community Voice Latino Voters Guide and Coalition Senior Citizen Security, and outdoor signs.

Sayles' contributors were Manning, $500; hospital director Larry Chimbole, $500; Lancaster United Methodist Church Pastor J. Robert Stimmel, $250; former board member Hank Marvin, $200; insurance agency co-owner Trudy Marvin, $200; Antelope Valley Insurance Agency owner and former Antelope Valley Fair board member Clyde Golding, $200; and Realtor Danielle Lewis, $100.

Sayles reported $1,187 in contributions of less than $100, and a $2,000 loan to her campaign. Her expenditures include outdoor advertising.