(LA Business Journal) Real estate companies, corporate executives and high-level investors have contributed nearly $5 million to help Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger pass a slate of government reform initiatives in a special election that’s likely to be called this fall.

Led by Univision Communications Inc. Chairman A. Jerrold Perenchio’s $1.5 million donation, business interests have given the bulk of the money raised to date by the Citizens to Save California committee, set up by the governor’s allies to push the government reform initiatives.

Few of these companies stand to gain directly from passage of the ballot initiatives. But the measure would likely create a more friendly business environment – and for contributors, an opportunity to gain further access to the Schwarzenegger administration.

“We are frustrated with the way things are up in Sacramento,” said Tom Scott, chairman of the California Apartment Association Political Action Committee, which has donated $50,000 to the committee. “You try to go in and talk to people, they seem to listen, but in the end, we don’t accomplish anything because of the gridlock. We are supporting these measures in the hopes that this will change.”