SCHAFFER FREE WITH DONATIONS L.A., BURBANK, GLENDALE POLITICIANS AIDED BY NARCOTICS, WEAPONS SUSPECT.

Byline: Alex Dobuzinskis Staff Writer

Scott Schaffer, the former cab company operator arrested last week on suspicion of trading guns for drugs, made more than $25,000 in contributions to city officials and candidates in Los Angeles, Burbank and Glendale over the last six years.

In Los Angeles city government, recipients of Schaffer's contributions included Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa when he made his first mayoral run against James Hahn, City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo and City Controller Laura Chick.

``This is a striking example of how the campaign finance system must be reformed and full public financing be put in place,'' Chick said in an e-mail statement.

``This is just one case of someone who does business with the city of Los Angeles and felt it was necessary to infuse the system with almost $25,000 to 26 individual candidates for office,'' Chick said.

Schaffer, 51, a former co-owner of Sun Valley-based City Cab, was arrested at his Glendale home Wednesday on suspicion of violating federal firearm and drug laws. Police believe Schaffer, who is in federal custody, traded guns for cocaine with the Vineland Boys street gang.

Burbank City Councilwoman Stacey Murphy, who Burbank police described as a longtime companion of Schaffer's, was arrested the same day when police allegedly found drugs and guns at her home.

Schaffer made $2,000 in donations to Villaraigosa during his campaign in 2000. He also contributed $1,000 to Delgadillo's campaign the same year.

``Outside of the contribution ... there's been no interaction'' between Schaffer and Delgadillo, said Roger Salazar, spokesman for Californians for Rocky.

The Mayor's Office did not immediately comment on the contributions.

``You can't keep track of all your donors, obviously, and you do the best you can in terms of determining who they are so they don't embarrass you,'' said Bob Stern, president of the Center for Governmental Studies.

``When somebody has received a contribution from someone who gets in trouble, occasionally they'll return the money or they'll turn it over to the city or state,'' Stern said. ``If it's four years ago, then usually there's no money to give back.''

Schaffer, a former Glendale Water and Power commissioner, spent $1,000 on a fundraiser for Glendale City Councilman Bob Yousefian's campaign in 2004, according to campaign finance statements.

``We didn't really talk about taxi business,'' Yousefian said. ``We mostly - if it was any talk - it was just during the election time and it was just usual election gossip that goes around.''

Schaffer made a $2,500 in-kind contribution to Glendale City Councilman Dave Weaver's campaign in July 2004. And he wrote Glendale City Councilman Ara Najarian two checks earlier this year, one for $500 and another for $1,500 that bounced, Najarian said.

Najarian said he has known Schaffer since 1997, and that when he spoke to him earlier this year, Schaffer said his relationship with Murphy had ended and that he was out of the taxi business.

``He never asked for anything, and I didn't think there was anything he needed assistance with,'' Najarian said. ``Because I think he was in a state of transition to maybe get involved in another business venture of some sort.''

Schaffer also contributed $500 to Burbank City Councilman Dave Golonski's campaign in March under the company name Schaffer Business Group.

Alex Dobuzinskis, [phone]

alex.dobuzinskis(at)dailynews.com