SPENDING MOUNTS IN ASSEMBLY RACES AS PRIMARY NEARS.

Byline: Lee Condon Staff Writer

With the clock ticking down to the March 7 primary, candidates in the Assembly races are continuing to spend big.

The candidates were required to send in campaign finance disclosure statements showing how much they raised from Jan. 23 through Feb. 19.

In the 43rd Assembly District, three Democrats and three Republicans are vying for the post now held by Assemblyman Scott Wildman, D-Glendale, who is running for Senate. The district covers the Burbank-Glendale area.

--Dario Frommer, former appointment secretary to Gov. Gray Davis, dominates the Democratic field in terms of fund-raising. He pulled in $103,377 and spent $95,964. Lawyer Paul Krekorian reported he raised $21,110 and spent $61,193. John Hisserich, a health care administrator at USC, reported raising $12,612.

--On the Republican side, lawyer Mark MacCarley reported raising an additional $19,211. Reports for Republicans Craig Missakian, a lawyer, and Elizabeth Michael, a computer manufacturer, were not available Friday.

The 44th Assembly District, which includes Sunland, Tujunga, Montrose, La Crescenta, La Canada Flintridge, Pasadena and parts of Glendale, shows active fund-raising.

--Among Democrats, former Screen Actors Guild President Barry Gordon reported contributions of $75,536. La Canada Flintridge Mayor Carol Liu loaned her campaign an additional $100,000, bringing the total amount she has loaned to her campaign to $300,000. In total, Liu has spent $370,000, significantly more than the $208,000 spent in all by Gordon.

Lawyer and management consultant Diana Peterson-More reported raising $18,602 in this period and spending $99,001.

--On the Republican side, the tallies were much lower. Damian Aaron Jones, a public affairs professional with Fannie Mae, led in fund-raising, taking in $13,623.

Susan Carpenter-McMillan reported raising $5,540. However, Carpenter- McMillan has outspent Jones since the start of the year, spending $56,928, compared to the $15,098 doled out by Jones.

Robert Wagner, a former South Pasadena Councilman, did not file a report, saying he has raised less than $1,000.

The candidates in the 44th District are running to replace Assemblyman Jack Scott, D-Pasadena, who is running for state Senate.

There is also a vacancy in the 41st Assembly District, where Assemblywoman Sheila Kuehl, D-Encino, is giving up her job to running for Senate against Knox.

--S. David Freeman, general manager of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, reported raising $86,897, significantly more than the $47,318 pulled in by fellow Democrat Fran Pavley, a teacher. William Wallace, a doctor, reported no new contributions.

Reports were not available for Democrats Brenda F. Gottfried, a Santa Monica school board member, and Tony Vasquez, a teacher and former Santa Monica city councilman.

--On the Republican side, Jayne Murphy Shapiro, a child safety advocate, reported new contributions of $24,227. Shapiro reported cash on hand of $104,191. The reports for elementary school teacher Stefan Stitch, a Republican, and Libertarian Colin S. Goldman were not available.

< In the 42nd District, the candidates are running to replace Assemblyman Wally Knox, D-Los Angeles, who is seeking a state Senate seat.

--Lawyer Amanda Susskind, a Democrat, reported raising $247,726, including making a $20,000 loan to her campaign. Susskind reported having cash on hand of $306,950. Physician Dan Stone reported new contributions of $8,764 and cash on hand of $95,536. A report was not available for West Hollywood City Councilman Paul Koretz, the other Democrat in the race.

--Green Party candidate Sara Amir, an environmental scientist,reported raising $1,960 in contributions and cash on hand of $2,536.

Reports were not available for the other candidates in the race.

In the 38th Assembly District, Keith Stuart Richman, a doctor and businessman, reported raising $46,124 in contributions and a $100,000 loan to his campaign. Richman, who is running for the Republican nomination, reported cash on hand of $102,965.

Reports were not available for his competitors, businessman Ross B. Hopkins and Simi Valley school board member Norm Walker. John Lauritzen, a computer mathematics teachers and the only Democrat running in the primary, reported raising $2,585 and cash on hand of $9,670.