Nolan Uses Fund-Raisers to Offset Cost of Legal Defense : Government: The Glendale Republican collected the most money brought in by any event in his 15 years in Assembly. He has been indicted on corruption charges.

Assemblyman Pat Nolan, faced with mounting a costly legal defense against federal political corruption charges, raised about $100,000 at a Burbank fund-raiser this week--the most he has collected in a single event during his 15 years in the Assembly, aides said.

The Wednesday night reception--his first major fund-raiser since the April indictment--will be followed next week by a no-frills Sacramento birthday party with hot dogs, potato chips and cake, Nolan said. His 43rd birthday bash is expected to add $15,000 to $20,000 to the Glendale Republican’s war chest.

Both events were planned before Nolan’s indictment by a federal grand jury on six counts of racketeering, extortion, conspiracy and money laundering. He has pleaded not guilty.

But Nolan said he needs to set aside some of the funds--he declined to disclose how much--to prepare his defense because of “the unlimited U.S. treasury that’s being used against me.” The use of campaign funds in such cases has been allowed by the state Fair Political Practices Commission.

He said some of the funds will be used in what is expected to be a tough 1994 reelection campaign in a district that includes Glendale, Burbank and Griffith Park.

Nolan and state Sen. Frank Hill (R-Whittier) were the first Republican legislators indicted in a case stemming from a sting operation in which FBI agents posing as businessmen sought legislation to help bogus companies build a shrimp processing plant near Sacramento.

Already convicted and serving time as a result of the investigation are former Democratic Sens. Joseph B. Montoya of Whittier and Alan Robbins of Van Nuys.

With Robbins’ cooperation, the grand jury also indicted Coastal Commissioner Mark L. Nathanson, who agreed to plead guilty to charges that he used his office to extort payments from celebrities and others seeking coastal building permits.

But the 450 well-wishers gathered at the Castaway restaurant in Burbank said it was unfair to lump Nolan with Nathanson and the convicted Democratic lawmakers. In their view, Nolan is an honest hometown hero, a champion of smaller, more frugal government.

A smiling Nolan was greeted by dozens of Burbank and Glendale business people, friends from high school--including some Democrats--and family who plunked down $200 apiece to rally to Nolan’s side and, coincidentally, eat shrimp and listen to piano music, including the theme of the movie “The Sting.”

The Burbank event was originally staged to observe Nolan’s 15 years in office. It provided a forum to recall the anti-tax and conservative agenda that catapulted him into office in 1978. He even read from an old campaign brochure.

Nolan, who previously served as leader of Assembly Republicans, was joined by such Republican luminaries as Los Angeles County Supervisor Mike Antonovich and State Board of Equalization Member Matthew Fong.

The headline speaker was Ed Rollins, a onetime legislative aide and manager of Ronald Reagan’s 1984 presidential campaign, who staunchly defended Nolan.

Rollins, a political consultant who last year briefly co-managed Ross Perot’s independent presidential bid, said Nolan’s indictment was prompted by his effectiveness in soliciting campaign contributions to gain a Republican majority in the Assembly.

“To indict him and let (Assembly Speaker) Willie Brown and the Democrats go is just amazing to me,” Rollins said in an interview. He quickly added that he is unaware of any improper or illegal actions by Brown.

Rollins later told the cheering crowd: “Pat today is paying the ultimate price for his political convictions. This is one of the most honest, decent men I have ever known.”

That theme was echoed throughout the evening.

“I’ve often had disagreements with him politically,” said Grover McKean, a Democrat who served as chief deputy to state Treasurer Jesse M. Unruh. But McKean, an investment banker who has known Nolan for more than two decades, added: “I have no questions about his integrity.”