ROBERTS TOP FUND-RAISER CITY OFFICE HOPEFULS RELEASE CAMPAIGN STATEMENTS.

Byline: Jim Skeen Staff Writer

LANCASTER - The two incumbents and the Planning Commission chairman lead their challengers in fund raising for the April 9 Lancaster municipal election, according to candidate financial statements.

Mayor Frank Roberts was the top fund-raiser, collecting $62,676 for his re-election campaign as of March 23, according to the report filed last week.

Roberts' largest contributors were developer Andrew Eliopulos, who contributed $1,200, and LA-DF Investment Fund LLC, an Alhambra company, which contributed $1,000.

Notable contributors to the Roberts campaign include former California Republican Party Chairman Frank Visco, $500; former Antelope Valley College board member Don Ross, $150; and Antelope Valley Hospital board member Steve Fox, $150.

Mayoral candidate Norm Hickling, a former Northrop Grumman executive who is now the office manager of High Desert Medical Group, has raised $15,481 and lists a debt of $9,981 in his bid to unseat Roberts.

Hickling's major contributors are High Desert Medical Group in Lancaster and Desert Medical Group in Victorville, which each contributed $4,750.

The three other mayoral challengers, Anthony Booth, William Fender and Gene Gaynor, filed statements saying they did not anticipate raising or spending more than $1,000 on each of their campaigns.

In the race for the two council seats, Vice Mayor Henry Hearns led the financial battle, raising $22,430 for his campaign as of March 23, records show.

Major contributors to Hearns' campaign include Eliopulos, $1,200; Pocker Properties Inc. in Lancaster, $1,000; Korean Dry Cleaners and Laundry in Gardena, $1,000; LA-DF Investment Fund LLC, $1,000; and Visco, $1,000.

Other notable Hearns contributors include former Mayor Lou Bozigian and his brother, Ralph, a former Antelope Valley Fair board member. Both contributed $100.

Planning Commission Chairman Ed Sileo, a council candidate, listed $11,105 in contributions and $1,000 in debts. Major contributors to Sileo's campaign include LA-DF Investment Fund LLC, $1,000; Lancaster Cardiology Medical Center, $1,000; Ron Barber of Lancaster, $1,000; and Adeline Phillips of Playa del Rey, $700.

Notable contributors to Sileo's campaign include former Palmdale Councilwoman Shelley Sorsabal and Rita Burleson, an aide to Assemblyman George Runner, R-Lancaster.

Council candidate Andrew Banks listed one contributor, the California Correctional Peace Officers Association, which provided $1,500.

Candidates Steve Malicott and George Root, a former mayor, filed forms saying they anticipated raising and spending less than $1,000 each.