The cost of campaigning
Warning: Seeking a City Council seat may be a hazard to your bank account balance.
That caveat should be placed at the top of the nomination papers candidates pick up at City Hall as part of the process of running for a term on Yorba Linda’s governing body.
And the warning should be in all capital letters for this year’s contest, which could be one of the costliest campaign battles in the city’s 40-year history.
At stake are three seats on the five-member body, which has had differences of opinion on a number of issues, including Old Town redevelopment, opening council committee meetings to public scrutiny and setting a proper salary for the City Manager.
Fundraising is always a major task for council candidates, and the 2008 election will be especially expensive because of a large voter turnout during a Presidential year and a big increase in mail-in voters, who mark ballots at varying times weeks before Election Day.
The cost for a credible candidate to win one of the three seats up for grabs this year easily will top the $30,000-to-$40,000-range winning and some losing candidates spent in 2000.
The 2002, 2004 and 2006 races were less expensive for the winners—but not by much.
All but one of the current council members have debt from past campaigns. Of course, they only owe the money to themselves, since the cash they placed into their campaign treasuries were loans, which they expect to repay with contributions from others.
According to the most recent campaign finance filings, Allen Castellano is debt-free, with a cash balance of $3,453. Jim Winder’s self-debt is $2,000, with $762 cash-on-hand; and Hank Wedaa owes himself $10,000, with $4,298 available cash.
The two council members whose terms expire in 2010 also owe themselves money. John Anderson has a cash balance of $6,633 with $7,000 in self-made loans, while Jan Horton has $4,830 cash and $5,950 in loans she’s made to her campaign account.
Interestingly, former Councilwoman Keri Wilson has the most cash available, $13,266; and she’s repaid herself $5,000 of a $14,200 loan, leaving $9,200 debt. Ken Ryan has $4,000 cash in his account, while Mike Duvall lists only a $10,000 loan to himself.
Wedaa already has planned his first fundraiser, with Jim Wohlt, recently elevated to the Planning Commission from the traffic panel, organizing a “casino night” at Yorba Linda County Club, April 5, 6 to 11 p.m., for a $50 donation.
“I want to raise funds early, so that I can concentrate on the election issues later on,” Wedaa said. (Other candidates wanting to plug their fundraisers can e-mail info to the address at the end of this column.)
A FINAL NOTE
Main Street businessman Louie Scull, well-known for his activism in the Old Town business community and appearances during the council’s public comment periods, was the most generous council campaign contributor during the recent reporting period.
Scull, owner of the building that has housed his Yorba Linda Plumbing business for more than 35 years and an antique radio store for several years, parceled out $3,500—$1,500 to Wedaa and $1,000 each to Anderson and Horton—during the last half of 2007.
That caveat should be placed at the top of the nomination papers candidates pick up at City Hall as part of the process of running for a term on Yorba Linda’s governing body.
And the warning should be in all capital letters for this year’s contest, which could be one of the costliest campaign battles in the city’s 40-year history.
At stake are three seats on the five-member body, which has had differences of opinion on a number of issues, including Old Town redevelopment, opening council committee meetings to public scrutiny and setting a proper salary for the City Manager.
Fundraising is always a major task for council candidates, and the 2008 election will be especially expensive because of a large voter turnout during a Presidential year and a big increase in mail-in voters, who mark ballots at varying times weeks before Election Day.
The cost for a credible candidate to win one of the three seats up for grabs this year easily will top the $30,000-to-$40,000-range winning and some losing candidates spent in 2000.
The 2002, 2004 and 2006 races were less expensive for the winners—but not by much.
All but one of the current council members have debt from past campaigns. Of course, they only owe the money to themselves, since the cash they placed into their campaign treasuries were loans, which they expect to repay with contributions from others.
According to the most recent campaign finance filings, Allen Castellano is debt-free, with a cash balance of $3,453. Jim Winder’s self-debt is $2,000, with $762 cash-on-hand; and Hank Wedaa owes himself $10,000, with $4,298 available cash.
The two council members whose terms expire in 2010 also owe themselves money. John Anderson has a cash balance of $6,633 with $7,000 in self-made loans, while Jan Horton has $4,830 cash and $5,950 in loans she’s made to her campaign account.
Interestingly, former Councilwoman Keri Wilson has the most cash available, $13,266; and she’s repaid herself $5,000 of a $14,200 loan, leaving $9,200 debt. Ken Ryan has $4,000 cash in his account, while Mike Duvall lists only a $10,000 loan to himself.
Wedaa already has planned his first fundraiser, with Jim Wohlt, recently elevated to the Planning Commission from the traffic panel, organizing a “casino night” at Yorba Linda County Club, April 5, 6 to 11 p.m., for a $50 donation.
“I want to raise funds early, so that I can concentrate on the election issues later on,” Wedaa said. (Other candidates wanting to plug their fundraisers can e-mail info to the address at the end of this column.)
A FINAL NOTE
Main Street businessman Louie Scull, well-known for his activism in the Old Town business community and appearances during the council’s public comment periods, was the most generous council campaign contributor during the recent reporting period.
Scull, owner of the building that has housed his Yorba Linda Plumbing business for more than 35 years and an antique radio store for several years, parceled out $3,500—$1,500 to Wedaa and $1,000 each to Anderson and Horton—during the last half of 2007.
posted by Jim Drummond at 12:00 PM
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