Gary Miller

Five U.S. Representatives from Southern California have made Roll Call’s annual list of the 50 richest members of the U.S. Congress.

Ron Shepston, who is engaged in a Democratic primary battle against Ed Chau in Congressional District 42, has landed the endorsement of the Communications Workers of America.

“Mr. Shepston is the candidate who best embodies union values, and we are proud to endorse him,” said CWA executive vice president Judy Perez.

Shepston, an avionics engineer, is competing for the right to take on Republican Gary Miller, a four-term incumbent, in November’s general election.

The district spans the Los Angeles, Orange, and San Bernardino counties.

Ron Shepston, one of the Democrats seeking Republican U.S. Rep. Gary Miller’s District 42 seat, has raised $15,000 in first quarter funds and has $10,000 on hand, his campaign reported to the Federal Election Commission Monday.

Shepston’s haul places him behind fellow Democrat Ed Chau as the two head to the June 3rd primary. Chau has reported $38,000 in first quarter fundraising and has $69,000 in cash on hand.

Shepston’s fundraising numbers may disappoint state and national Democrats who believe that Miller, who is under federal investigation for a series of land deals, is vulnerable this November. In the fourth quarter of 2007, Miller reported $288,000 raised and had $835,000 on hand.

Congressional candidate Ed Chau, gearing up for the June 3 primary against fellow Democrat Ron Shepston in the 42nd Congessional District, says he has raised $38,000 in first-quarter funds. He has taken in $69,000 in total, with $20,000 on loan from his own pocket.

“We need to continue raising money,” said Chau, seeming to acknowledge that his fundraising efforts were coming up on the short end. “It’s never enough, you know.”

In the fourth quarter of 2007, Shepston, an avionics engineer, raised just short in $27,000.

Chau, an attorney, and Shepton are facing off for the right to challenge Republican incumbent Gary Miller this fall. In the fourth quarter of 2007 Miller recorded almost $289,000 raised over $835,000 in the bank.