THE MONEY RACE

By Jorge Casuso

If the latest campaign disclosure statements are any indication, voters can expect a blitz of last-minute mailers from the front runners as the race for an empty seat on the Santa Monica City Council enters its final week.

Candidate Susan Cloke goes into the April 24-25 weekend election having raised a total of $43,273 -- $23,142 of that during the latest filing period, which ran from March 11 to April 7, according to documents filed this week with the city clerk. So far, she has reported spending $45,240; of the total, $33,513 was spent during the latest period, much of it for literature that has yet to hit the streets.

In comparison, Richard Bloom has raised $19,673, thanks to an influx of $14,534 during the latest filing period. But Bloom - who is backed by Santa Monicans for Renters Rights -- also can count on the $46,960 raised by the powerful tenants group, $11,849 of that during the latest period.

Bloom has reported spending $4,250 so far, with $3,250 spent during the latest filing period, while SMRR has spent $40,130, $18,095 during the latest period. As with Cloke, voters have yet to see the results of the lion's share of Bloom's expenditures.

During the latest filing period, Bloom received 52 contributions of more than $100 - up from 21 during the previous period, which ran from Jan. 1 to March 10. Cloke received 111 similar contributions, up from 101 .

Bloom's contributors included five fellow attorneys and a smattering of doctors, artists, restaurant owners and entrepreneurs.

Cloke also received money from a wide array of sources, but her campaign statement lists nearly two dozen contributions -- a quarter of the total - from developers, Realtors, income property owners and their representatives, most of whom donated the $250 maximum. It continues a trend from the previous filing period, which saw contributions listed from more than two dozen supporters in development-related fields, as well as a half dozen hotels.

Among Cloke's contributors during the latest filing period were the following, all of whom gave $250 each:

· Dan E. Emmett, a principal of Douglas, Emmett & Company, which is currently closing a more than $90 million deal to buy the 520-unit Santa Monica Shores apartment complex in Ocean Park.

· Two officials of the RAND Corporation, whose Civic Center Plan - one of the largest proposed developments in the city's history -- is expected to come before the council (RAND also has been a contributor to SMMR).

· Arbortum Gateway, LLC, which is currently constructing a major six-story office building on the corner of Colorado Ave. and Cloverfield Blvd.

· Linda J. Bozung, an attorney for the developers of the $200 million rebuilding of Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center on 15th Street and Wilshire Blvd.

· Lantana North Hines Development LLC, one of the nation's largest real estate developers, who are seeking to construct an addition to an office complex in the Olympic Blvd. corridor. Douglas G. Holte, a developer with Hines, and Lisa A. Holte, also contributed $250.

Cloke says the contributions reflect her record of "balanced growth and keeping the unique character of Santa Monica."

"I treat people fairly," Cloke said. "I have an open mind and look for reasonable solutions where everyone has a part."

Cloke said that she has a broad base of support, including renters, seniors, artists and musicians.

"Not everybody can own you," she said. "When you have a broad base of support, you have no choice but to build consensus. People know that I keep an open mind."

Candidate Peter R. Kerndt has raised $9,665 to date, $2,365 during the latest filing period. Kerndt has spent $9,875; of the total, $7,328 was spent during the latest filing period. Of Kerndt's 20 contributors since March 11, none listed a Santa Monica address.

Candidate Frank Juarez has raised a total of $3,430, with $2,625 coming in contributions during the latest period. He has spent $1,410, all but $200 of that during the latest period.

Candidates Donald Gray, Jon Stevens and Marc J. Sanschagrin did not report receiving any contributions.