Anti-developer pledges
For the first time in at least 20 years—and perhaps the only time in city history—all of the candidates in a City Council race have pledged to not accept campaign contributions from developers or individuals and businesses that depend on council votes for income.
Specific commitments came from Victoria Gulickson, Hank Wedaa and Keri Wilson in response to questions I e-mailed them regarding the upcoming June 5 special election to fill 18 months of an unexpired term on Yorba Linda’s five-member governing body.
In addition, Gulickson and Wedaa promised to not take money from political action committees, which are sometimes funded by developers and other building and real estate-related interests.
And political newcomer Gulickson, 40, noted, “I have made the decision to accept no monetary contributions, but to wholly bear the burden of financing this campaign.”
The first-time candidate added, “It is not that my husband and I are wealthy people, but I feel that when there is something worth believing in and stand(ing) up for, such as ethics and principles, (then) you must be willing to sacrifice to protect those beliefs.”
Wedaa, 83, who’s won seven council contests, and Wilson, 46, who’s won one and lost one ballot battle, probably won’t join Gulickson’s financial pledge in a race in which the past council members are expected to spend in the $20,000 and $30,000 range.
Last year, John Anderson reported raising $25,886 and Jan Horton $25,958 in cash, loans, goods and services to win the November contest, with Doug Dickerson and Wilson, who ran third and fourth, taking in $38,991 and $49,632.
Many council candidates in the past several years have solicited and accepted donations from developers, developer- and real estate industry-funded political action committees, city contractors and other individuals and firms who rely on council decisions for profits.
And builders and real estate-related interests put up a city-record $174,150 in a failed attempt to defeat a citizen-sponsored Right-to-Vote on Land-Use Amendments initiative (Measure B) on last June’s election ballot.
So, it’s good to see that, finally, this year’s candidates are responding to citizen concern about the appropriateness of accepting money from outside-the-city special interests.
In addition, Wedaa and Wilson had combative responses to my request for them to include “other comments that you think might be an appropriate topic for my column.”
One Wedaa idea: to discuss “why a soundly defeated councilwoman believes she can overcome the massive negative feelings the voters recently demonstrated against her by ejecting her from office, especially when she has an opponent with the reputation for low density and voter concern like me, who has as long record of satisfactory performance.”
Wilson’s suggestion: “I have been reviewing Mr. Wedaa’s contribution forms during his tenure as a council member. I was shocked at the volume of money he collects as non-reportable $99 contributions. As an investigative reporter, you may want to research and write about this practice. I found it very interesting.”
A FINAL NOTE
A first pre-election campaign finance report is due April 26 and a second May 24, 12 days before precinct voting. Since many voters will cast absentee ballots, they won’t have much of a chance to see if candidates keep their election finance promises.
Reports of contributions made just before and after May 24 aren’t due until July 31, and reports of any made after June 30 aren’t due until Jan. 31, 2008.
Specific commitments came from Victoria Gulickson, Hank Wedaa and Keri Wilson in response to questions I e-mailed them regarding the upcoming June 5 special election to fill 18 months of an unexpired term on Yorba Linda’s five-member governing body.
In addition, Gulickson and Wedaa promised to not take money from political action committees, which are sometimes funded by developers and other building and real estate-related interests.
And political newcomer Gulickson, 40, noted, “I have made the decision to accept no monetary contributions, but to wholly bear the burden of financing this campaign.”
The first-time candidate added, “It is not that my husband and I are wealthy people, but I feel that when there is something worth believing in and stand(ing) up for, such as ethics and principles, (then) you must be willing to sacrifice to protect those beliefs.”
Wedaa, 83, who’s won seven council contests, and Wilson, 46, who’s won one and lost one ballot battle, probably won’t join Gulickson’s financial pledge in a race in which the past council members are expected to spend in the $20,000 and $30,000 range.
Last year, John Anderson reported raising $25,886 and Jan Horton $25,958 in cash, loans, goods and services to win the November contest, with Doug Dickerson and Wilson, who ran third and fourth, taking in $38,991 and $49,632.
Many council candidates in the past several years have solicited and accepted donations from developers, developer- and real estate industry-funded political action committees, city contractors and other individuals and firms who rely on council decisions for profits.
And builders and real estate-related interests put up a city-record $174,150 in a failed attempt to defeat a citizen-sponsored Right-to-Vote on Land-Use Amendments initiative (Measure B) on last June’s election ballot.
So, it’s good to see that, finally, this year’s candidates are responding to citizen concern about the appropriateness of accepting money from outside-the-city special interests.
In addition, Wedaa and Wilson had combative responses to my request for them to include “other comments that you think might be an appropriate topic for my column.”
One Wedaa idea: to discuss “why a soundly defeated councilwoman believes she can overcome the massive negative feelings the voters recently demonstrated against her by ejecting her from office, especially when she has an opponent with the reputation for low density and voter concern like me, who has as long record of satisfactory performance.”
Wilson’s suggestion: “I have been reviewing Mr. Wedaa’s contribution forms during his tenure as a council member. I was shocked at the volume of money he collects as non-reportable $99 contributions. As an investigative reporter, you may want to research and write about this practice. I found it very interesting.”
A FINAL NOTE
A first pre-election campaign finance report is due April 26 and a second May 24, 12 days before precinct voting. Since many voters will cast absentee ballots, they won’t have much of a chance to see if candidates keep their election finance promises.
Reports of contributions made just before and after May 24 aren’t due until July 31, and reports of any made after June 30 aren’t due until Jan. 31, 2008.
posted by Jim Drummond at 12:00 PM
<< Home