Seeking to compete with big spenders backing rival candidate Wendy Greuel, local Democratic fundraisers launched an independent campaign for Eric Garcetti this week.
Mary Jane Stevenson, who served as California director of President Barack Obama's recent re-election campaign, and Rick Jacobs, founder of the liberal political group Courage Campaign, are behind the group.
The committee marks the first independent expenditure effort for City Councilman Garcetti in the Los Angeles mayor's race.
By contrast, two independent expenditure groups have spent more than $1 million on Controller Greuel's behalf.
Working Californians, a committee backed by the Department of Water and Power union, this week reported spending $525,000 on television spots on behalf of Greuel. The Los Angeles Police Protective League is also spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on Greuel.
Those powerful interests prompted Stevenson and Jacobs to start fundraising for Garcetti, Stevenson said in an interview Thursday.
"I want there to be an even playing field," Stevenson said. She said she expects to draw donations from a diverse group, particularly those contributors who want to give more than the current limit of $1,300.
Independent expenditures aren't governed by campaign contribution limits and hold huge influence in elections since they can buy advertising, mailers and radio spots.
Stevenson said she's known Garcetti since early
2000 and believes he shares similarities with Obama."Eric really has a vision for L.A. that we love," she said.
The independent expenditure comes weeks after Garcetti asked the other mayoral candidates to denounce outside spending by signing a pledge to lessen the influence of independent expenditures in the race.
On Friday, Jeff Millman, Garcetti's consultant, defended Garcetti's stance, pointing that Greuel wouldn't sign the pledge.
"Obviously L.A. residents are worried that the DWP union is trying to buy this election for Wendy Greuel," Millman said. "So of course there are many people who will react against that."
Candidate Kevin James also has an independent expenditure committee, one backed by Republican billionaire Harold Simmons. The committee has spent more than $487,000.
On Friday, James earned a key endorsement from former Mayor Richard Riordan.
"Kevin is the only candidate capable of creating real pension reform for the City of Los Angeles," Riordan said in a statement. "His complete independence from the special interest groups at City Hall will allow Kevin to establish real change for L.A."
The new committees were formed as spending by existing independent expenditure committees in the mayoral election has exceeded $1.5 million, the city Ethics Commission reported Friday.
Staff Writer Rick Orlov contributed to this report.
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