Nunez fund gets $600,000 donation

A campaign fund controlled by Assembly Speaker Emeritus Fabian Nunez (D-Los Angeles) received a donation of over $600,000 last week from a voter registration fund.

Nunez, who is termed out at the end of the year, controls the Committee to Protect California's Future, which was the primary campaign fund for the failed term-limits reform measure Proposition 93 earlier this year.

The money came from Voter Registration 2008, a fund controlled typically by the Assembly Speaker, in this case Karen Bass of Los Angeles, who replaced Nunez earlier this year.

Money in Nunez's fund could be spent in several ways, including on a ballot initiative. Like many Democrats, Nunez is believed to oppose Proposition 11, which addresses political redistricting reform and is backed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Nunez has mentioned sponsoring a ballot initiative of his own related to redistricting that would also include changes to term limits. That effort has yet to coalesce into something public, and would be ineligible for the November ballot at this point.

The fund has a listed balance of more than $1.5 million, according to the California Secretary of State's Web site.

Nunez could also move some of the money into a campaign account for himself, subject to state contribution limits.  He has not announced future plans after he leaves office.

Some believe Nunez is interested in either running for governor in 2010, or for the mayoral position in Los Angeles if current mayor Antonio Villaraigosa decides to run for governor.