District 3 Senate race tops $1.5 million

Fund raising soared to more than $1.5 million in the three-way race for the state Senate seat representing much of southern Sonoma County and could double by the Democratic primary in June.

As expected, incumbent 3rd District Sen. Carole Migden of San Francisco led challengers Mark Leno and Joe Alioto Veronese, collecting $869,000 in 2007, including about $395,000 in the last six months of the year, according to campaign finance reports available Friday.

Leno, a San Francisco assemblyman, raised $674,000 with $217,000 since July; and Veronese, a San Francisco police commissioner, had $218,000, about $117,000 in the last period, the records show.

The combined fund raising in one of the most hard-fought primaries in the state could grow to $3 million by June 3. The district covers southern Sonoma County, including Petaluma and Rohnert Park, Marin County and parts of San Francisco.

"It will be very expensive and very bloody," said Dave McCuan, professor of political science at Sonoma State University. "It will be a lot of fun to watch."

A possible fourth candidate, former Assemblyman Joe Nation of San Rafael, has raised about $20,000 for an exploratory committee but has not announced a formal bid.

Campaign finance reports covering July 1 to Dec. 31 were due Thursday. As they were posted by the secretary of state, showing Migden had outraised Leno almost 2-to-1 in the most recent period, the Leno campaign issued a statement challenging the margin.

His office said rules limiting individual contributions to $3,600 for the primary and $3,600 for the general election mean Leno has more money remaining for the primary -- considered the deciding race in the heavily Democratic district.

Leno estimated Migden's true primary fund at $122,000.

"The bottom line here is how much a candidate has on hand for the June 3 primary," Leno said Friday. "Migden's numbers are inflated with general election money she can't use in the primary. We're feeling very confident."

Migden did not return calls seeking comment.

She is being investigated by the state Fair Political Practices Commission for allegedly using credit cards to charge $397,000 in political expenses without disclosing who was initially paid and for what, as required by campaign finance laws.

Contributions for Migden and Leno reflect traditional Democratic sources, including labor unions, employee associations and friendly politicians.

In Sonoma County, Migden got $3,500 from the Organic Cannabis Foundation on Santa Rosa Avenue and a smaller amount from Joseph Valentine of the Community Foundation, but the bulk of her money came from San Francisco and outside the district.

Leno also listed few Sonoma County donations. Sebastopol City Councilman Larry Robinson and Petaluma Mayor Pam Torliatt made small contributions.

Among his statewide contributors were Indian tribes with casinos. He said he raised about $10,000 last weekend at a Santa Rosa fund-raiser hosted by Susan Moore, president of a group backing a casino resort proposed near Rohnert Park. The event drew abut 100 people, Leno said.

"It makes him a serious challenger with those kind of dollars," McCuan said.

Veronese, considered a long shot by political watchers, had contributions from the executive director of the Sonoma County Farm Bureau, Lex McCorvey, and Dante B. Benedetti of Clover-Stornetta Farms in Petaluma.

He said he would raise up to $700,000 more before the primary, focusing part of his campaign north of the Golden Gate Bridge while Migden and Leno, both openly gay, fight it out in San Francisco.

"This race is personal for them," said Veronese, a grandson of former San Francisco Mayor Joe Alioto with roots in the North Bay. "To me, it's only personal to the extent that the folks in Marin and Sonoma counties haven't been represented."

You can reach Staff Writer Paul Payne at 762-7297 or paul.payne@pressdemocrat.com.