SOBOROFF: SHUN CITY FUNDING MAYORAL CANDIDATES SKEPTICAL OF OPPONENT'S ELECTION CHALLENGE.

Byline: Rick Orlov Staff Writer

In the first major challenge of the April 10 mayor's race, the wealthiest candidate dared his opponents on Friday to forgo matching funds from the city but rejected a proposal that he agree to limit his spending.

Parks Commissioner Steve Soboroff, who has said he would spend up to $2 million of his personal wealth in the campaign and not accept matching funds, offered to use no more of his money if the other five major candidates would agree to reject the $667,000 apiece in matching funds from the city they are expected to collect.

With six well-financed candidates, the cost to taxpayers could reach $4 million in matching funds.

``With that money, we could pay for 50 new police officers, fix 40 parks or provide after-school programs for 3,200 kids,'' Soboroff wrote to other candidates.

If Soboroff breaks the spending limit for matching funds using his own money, it would allow the other five candidates - City Attorney James Hahn, Councilman Joel Wachs, former Assembly Speaker Antonio Villaraigosa, state Controller Kathleen Connell and Rep. Xavier Becerra, D-Los Angeles - to raise and spend unlimited money and still keep the city's contribution.

Wachs said he would readily agree to the proposal if Soboroff would agree to the city's spending limit of $2.2 million for the election. The city has no limit on expenditures of candidates' personal funds.

``The voters put in public financing because it was the only way to stop reckless spending,'' Wachs said. ``I'll not take any public funds if he agrees to the limits and also doesn't try to get around it with independent expenditures from his rich friends.''

Soboroff campaign manager Ace Smith said he would not agree to that.

``He is the least known and hasn't spent millions over the years in running for office or staying in office,'' Smith said. ``We're running against a bunch of career politicians. It would be absurd for us to agree to spending limits.''

The Soboroff letter came as the campaigns prepared for the next official round to qualify for the ballot - the filing of a declaration of intention to become a candidate, beginning on Wednesday. Candidates must declare at that time whether they will accept matching funds.

``As long as Mr. Soboroff agrees to not try to buy the election, we have no problem with his proposal,'' Hahn campaign manager Matt Middlebrook said. ``The idea of the matching funds was to create a level playing field and that's what we want to see.''

Villaraigosa campaign manager Parke Skelton said they could not agree to pass up matching funds without spending limits.

``The purpose of matching funds is to enforce an expenditure limit,'' Skeleton said. ``If he (Soboroff) would agree to spending limits, it would create a level playing field.''

Connell campaign manger John Shallman had a similar view. ``We are committed to the campaign finance reform that voters passed. The people said they wanted their voices heard, and not only those of the lobbyists and powerful special interests.''

Becerra campaign manager Paige Richardson called the proposal disingenuous.

``We never received the letter; we got a copy from the press,'' Richardson said. ``All he's trying to do is make an attempt to politicize matching funds. Congressman Becerra always has said he will agree to spending limits and Mr. Soboroff doesn't appear interested in that.''

The city's campaign law limits mayoral candidates to accepting donations of $1,000 per individual.

Soboroff proved to be the most effective fund-raiser in earlier reports, having raised more than $2 million as of last June. New campaign reports are to be filed by Jan. 31 on the final fund-raising from the year 2000.

He was followed by Hahn with $1.6 million, Villaraigosa at $1.2 million, Wachs with $860,000 and Becerra at $578,000. Connell did not enter the race until later and has yet to file a campaign report.