Image: Forbes
Texas billionaire and known supporter of conservative causes Harold Simmons has just been named the biggest spender in Los Angeles’ mayoral race, contributing another $500,000 to back Republican candidate Kevin James.
According to The Los Angeles Times, Simmons, Contran Corp. owner, is well known for his conservative backing in elections, including his $25 million donation to the Republican super PACs during the recent presidential election and his past $3 million contribution to the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, who “ran ads attacking Sen. John Kerry’s military service.” A Dallas, Texas resident, Simmons owns a home in Montecito, California and most recently “has given $600,000 to the Better Way L.A. committee,” making him the largest financial backer in the ongoing mayoral race in Los Angeles.
Candidate Kevin James’ spokesman Jeff Corless to The Los Angeles Times, “My guess is that Harold Simmons would like to see Los Angeles improving its financial situation.”
Eric Bauman, chair of the L.A. County Democratic Party recently released a statement that said, in part, “The Republicans are at it again: trying to buy another public office and dupe voters. This time, Harold Simmons, a Texas billionaire, is attempting to buy the Los Angeles Mayor’s Office with hundreds of thousands of out-of-state dollars. … Let me be perfectly clear, Los Angeles is a Deep Blue City and is not for sale. We urge all Angelenos to reject Republican Kevin James and his right-wing friend’s attempt to buy the Mayor’s Office. The Los Angeles County Democratic Party is committed to work aggressively to expose James for the hard-right-extremist that he is.”
The L.A. mayoral primary will be held on March 5.
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