UNIONS LIMITING SPENDING FOR ANGELIDES ORGANIZED LABOR OPPOSING SCHWARZENEGGER BUT NOT WITH ALL ITS MONEY.

Byline: HARRISON SHEPPARD Sacramento Bureau

Faced with a lopsided governor's race and coffers still recovering from massive spending in last year's special election, California labor unions are keeping a relatively low profile in this November's election.

``The impression I have is they're both tapped out, because of last year's special election, and (acting strategically) in that it doesn't look like a close race,'' said Bob Stern, president of the Los Angeles-based nonpartisan Center for Governmental Studies.

``So why put in a lot of money when it won't make a difference?''

A recent poll by the Public Policy Institute of California gave Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger an 18-point edge over Democratic challenger Phil Angelides.

Last year, the state's most powerful union, the California Teachers Association, spent about $58 million to defeat Schwarzenegger's four special-election ballot measures.

That was just part of about $120 million overall contributed by labor and other Democratic allies to defeat the measures.

This year, in contrast, the CTA has reported spending just $20 million for all candidates and causes.

Another major union, the California Correctional Peace Officers Association, has also reportedly canceled some broadcast ads it had reserved for Angelides.

Overall, various organized labor groups, including the CTA, have contributed about $17 million in donations and independent expenditures to the Angelides campaign, according to an analysis of recent campaign finance reports.

Stern noted that even though the unions support Angelides, they got concessions, including a minimum wage increase, that tempered their animosity toward Schwarzenegger.

``They're not supporting Schwarzenegger, but they're not supporting Angelides with every last penny,'' he said.

Arnold bigger spender

Reports released Oct. 26 indicate that overall Schwarzenegger has been raising and spending much more than Angelides. The governor raised $7 million from Oct. 1-21 and spent $8.7 million. Angelides raised and spent $4.2 million in the same period.

Overall, Schwarzenegger has spent about $40 million in 2006 -- with about $5.5 million from his own pocket -- while Angelides has spent $36 million.

And Schwarzenegger has been able to concentrate his spending close to Election Day, while Angelides spent much of his war chest during his tough Democratic primary battle against Controller Steve Westly.

Mark Bogetich, a Republican political consultant, said some of the unions have focused on statewide down-ticket races.

``They are still spending a very significant sum of money in candidate elections,'' said Bogetich, who is not directly involved with the governor's campaign this year.

A CTA spokeswoman said last year's election was about ballot measures that hit directly at union issues -- this one is about candidates.

Spending limits imposed

This year also is the first time new spending limits have been implemented under Proposition 34, she noted.

Brian Brokaw, a spokesman for the Angelides campaign, said the public shouldn't read too much into lower spending by unions this year.

``The reality is, because of the governor's wasteful special election last year, labor unions around the state spent millions of dollars in an attempt to defeat the governor's agenda,'' Brokaw said. ``The reality is their coffers were somewhat diminished.''

Matt David, a spokesman for the Schwarzenegger re-election campaign, said union voters should keep in mind things the governor has done to benefit middle-class working people, such as cutting the car tax and increasing education funding.

``Gov. Schwarzenegger is the only candidate in this election who has a record when it comes to the middle class,'' David said.

Art Pulaski, executive secretary-treasurer of the California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO, which represents about 2 million union members, said labor is backing Angelides and will be out in force for him on election weekend.

harrison.sheppard(at)dailynews.com

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