SOBOROFF SETS RECORD IN MAYORAL FUNDS RACE.

Byline: Rick Orlov Staff Writer

In a preview of the high-stakes mayoral contest coming next year, businessman Steve Soboroff reported Thursday that he already has raised $1.35 million, far outpacing what his major - and better known - opponents are expected to raise.

Soboroff, a parks commissioner and adviser to Mayor Richard Riordan, said he has received contributions from more than 3,000 people in coming up with the biggest war chest ever for an individual mayoral candidate at this stage of the campaign.

The campaign reports, for the period ending Dec. 31, are not due until Monday. Soboroff campaign aides, however, said they decided to release theirs early to show the level of support he is receiving.

``We're proud of what we've raised and think it shows an incredible amount of strength for a first-time candidate,'' consultant Ace Smith said. ``It shows he has beaten, hands down, a bunch of entrenched politicians.''

Soboroff is one of five major announced candidates in a field that includes City Attorney James Hahn, Councilman Joel Wachs, Assembly Speaker Antonio Villaraigosa, D-Los Angeles, and Rep. Xavier Becerra, D-Los Angeles.

All are expected to be able to raise enough money to qualify for city matching funds that could bring each campaign up to the $3 million level.

Soboroff has indicated he will not seek the matching funds and is prepared to use as much as $2 million of his own money in the race.

Riordan has endorsed Soboroff in the race and has helped in fund raising for the man who serves as Recreation and Parks Commission president and chair of the Proposition BB Oversight Committee.

Bill Carrick, consultant to City Attorney James Hahn, said the campaign expects to report raising about half as much as Soboroff.

``I think he's going to need that money,'' Carrick said. ``He's totally unknown and never had any public exposure. He's a Republican candidate in a Democratic city and has used his best weapon, with Mayor Riordan.

``This is just the first act. It's a long way until game time,'' Carrick said.

Smith countered that the support given to Soboroff shows the public wants a candidate from outside the political circle.

``Not only have we more than doubled the money and support of . . . Hahn, we've raised more money than all the declared candidates combined,'' Smith said.

Carrick disputed that.

``He's been in city politics for the past seven years,'' Carrick said. ``Steve Soboroff is as much an entrenched politician as anyone else.''

Villaraigosa earlier this month reported raising more than $300,000 during his first month as an official candidate. Wachs has refused to discuss his contributions, saying only that he would be competitive with other candidates. Becerra, who announced only last week, will not have to file this time.

OTHER RACES

Thursday was the deadline for candidates in the March 7 primary elections to file their latest reports of campaign contributions and spending, for the period of Jan. 1-22. The reports exclude earlier fund raising.

Reports submitted by mail were required only to be postmarked by Thursday, so not all reports were immediately available.

In the Los Angeles County district attorney's race, prosecutor Steve Cooley reported raising $27,520 during the latest period, boosting his fund-raising total to $258,308. Cooley is still behind incumbent Gil Garcetti and lawyer Barry Groveman in terms of fund raising. At the end of 1999, Garcetti reported collecting $715,000 for the race and Groveman reported contributions of $420,208.

In the battle for the 23rd District state Senate seat, Assemblyman Wally Knox, D-Los Angeles, boosted his war chest with a $250,000 loan to his own campaign. He also took in $75,000 in contributions since the start of the year, bringing his total war chest to $745,095. Assemblywoman Sheila Kuehl, D-Encino, raised $62,025, bringing her total contributions to $625,205. Kuehl has not relied on any loans. In the 41st District Assembly race, Santa Monica school board member Brenda Gottfried reported she has loaned her campaign $45,150 and raised $2,000 since the start of the year. Gottfried, a Democrat, loaned her own campaign $50,000 in the previous reporting period.

Democrat Barry Gordon, former president of the Screen Actors Guild, reported raising $34,390 in his bid for the 44th District Assembly seat.

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Photo: (mug) soboroff