Several prominent L.A. businessmen and investors have signed on to the presidential campaign of Republican Mitt Romney, including retail developer Rick Caruso and investment banker Brad Freeman, the campaign announced Thursday.

In all, the Romney campaign announced 27 California campaign finance co-chairs and six from Los Angeles County. The most prominent is Caruso, the prominent shopping center developer who also has been active in local politics, serving as police commission chief under former L.A. Mayor James Hahn.

Freeman, founder of the Freeman Spogli & Co. investment firm, served as President George W. Bush’s California campaign finance chair during the 2000 and 2004 presidential campaigns. He was also one of the Bush “pioneers,” contributing several hundred thousand dollars to both campaigns.

Other L.A. area businessmen on the Romney campaign are: Robert Day, chairman of the Trust Co. of the West and one of the Business Journal’s 50 wealthiest Angelenos; Steven Fink, chief executive of Lawrence Investments; Peter Starrett, president of retail advisory firm Peter Starrett Associates and another Bush backer; and Thomas Tellefsen, president of Santa Monica-based Tellefsen Investments and national finance co-chair for Romney.

Romney, 60, just concluded a term as Massachusetts governor. He drew national attention for legislation requiring every Massachusetts resident to have health care. He also headed the organizing committee for the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City. He announced his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination last month, joining Arizona Sen. John McCain and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, among others.