SMYTH LEADS FUND RAISING IN CITY RACE KELLAR SECOND AMONG 11 VYING FOR TWO COUNCIL SEATS.

Byline: Angela M. Lemire Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - With a crowded City Council election five weeks away, candidate Cameron Smyth maintains a $13,259 lead in campaign funds in a field of 11 candidates vying for two seats.

In his second run for Santa Clarita City Council in the April 11 nonpartisan election, Smyth's campaign portfolio was up to $34,145 in contributions of cash, goods and services by Friday, the deadline to disclose campaign funds to the city clerk.

Bob Kellar, appointed chairman of the city Planning Commission, amassed the second-largest campaign expense account with $20,886.

Candidate Bob Jonsen, a training officer for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, raised the third-highest amount overall with a campaign portfolio worth $5,491. Jonsen raised the most funds among the election's political newcomers.

Marsha McLean - also making her second run for City Council - ranked fourth with a campaign portfolio of $4,819.

The figures represent funds raised to date, not remaining cash balances in campaign accounts.

Smyth, who works as deputy chief of staff to state Sen. William J. ``Pete'' Knight, R-Palmdale, attributed his healthy campaign reserve to his community involvement, name recognition and early campaigning, which began last summer. He said he learned the importance of aggressive fund raising during his failed 1998 council bid, in which he placed fourth overall in a race for three council seats.

``Certainly campaign funds don't win races,'' Smyth said. ``But to get people to give you money for your campaign, I think that's definitely a sign that people are comfortable with you and they trust you. ... It also helps that I've run before. People know what I stand for.''

Smyth's main goals are to increase park land, improve Santa Clarita roads, preserve open space and improve the city's balance of jobs and housing.

Kellar, a retired Los Angeles police officer and local real estate agent, initially set out to raise more than $30,000, but now feels more is needed to wage an effective campaign that includes mass mailings, lawn signs and advertisements, he said.

Jonsen plans to canvass neighborhoods heavily instead of distributing fliers.

``I'm very happy with where we are right now,'' he said. ``We knew we'd be in a tough position not going after developers' dollars, so we knew we'd have to have more of a grass-roots campaign.''

McLean - who aims to control growth and protect the quality of life in established neighborhoods - was pleased with her fund-raising efforts so far because her campaign began late. McLean is confident her grass-roots style campaign and years of community involvement will pay off, she said.

Jonsen - whose main concerns are public safety, recreational facilities and programs, the environment and schools - said his campaign contributions reflect strong support from the local community. He criticized Kellar and Smyth for seeking the support of developers, especially those outside the city.

Several developers gave Smyth donations of $250 or less, but he refuted charges made by political foes in recent months that developers would have great influence over him if he were elected.

``That's just unfounded,'' Smyth said Friday. ``I will base my decisions on the merits of each project.''

And Kellar - whose main concerns are senior citizens' issues, improving roads, public safety and the environment - argued that campaign contribution lists don't show the cumulative support of smaller donations from individuals. His contributors also include numerous local businesses, he noted.

``Anybody who runs for public office nowadays needs broad-based support,'' Kellar said.

Campaign disclosures released Friday listed other candidates as having raised the following amounts: Diane Trautman, a two-term elementary school PTA president in Saugus schools, $2,778; Joe Nocella, a finance officer for the Los Angeles Redevelopment Agency, $2,375; Rein Schuerger, a Los Angeles County sheriff's sergeant, $1,550; and Eileen Connolly, a former Saugus school board member of 10 years, $1,330.

Timothy Michael Shanklin, an author and publisher; John Steffen, a retired biologist; and Robert Heinisch, a marketing and sales executive, claimed no campaign funds.

The 11 candidates are vying for two four-year seats held by Councilwomen Jan Heidt and Jill Klajic. Neither councilwoman is seeking re-election this year.