San Diego- The three San Diego city councilmen facing federal corruption charges are relying on campaign contributions to pay their legal bills, it was reported yesterday in the San Diego-Union Tribune.

Last year, councilmen Ralph Inzunza, Michael Zucchet and Charles Lewis raised a total of $247,478, most of which went to lawyers, the Tribune reported.

Campaign disclosure reports filed with the city show that the three received donations from the city’s key political players, including Mayor Dick Murphy and his top aide, the newspaper reported.

If the three are cleared of allegations of taking bribes to undo the city’s no-touch rule at strip clubs, fund-raising rules prohibit them from taking contributions from the same donors for re-election bids in 2006.

Inzunza raised $111,819 last year and about $100,000 went to his attorney Michael Pancer.

Zucchet raised $152,299 — that includes a $50,000 he contributed in the form of a personal loan — and spent about $137,000 on legal fees. His lawyer is Jerry Coughlan.

Lewis raised $55,935, including a $17,000 personal loan he made to his campaign fund, and spent $44,075.

Of the total spent, $30,000 went to the federal court. The judge overseeing the case ruled that Lewis did not have enough money for his defense, but he was required to pay for the first $30,000 in legal bills before public funds are used.

Lewis is represented by Frank Ragen, a private attorney among pool to be appointed to defendants unable to afford an attorney. Ragen bills the court at $90 per hour, far below the hourly rate charged by prominent lawyers.