Behind the fundraising wall
Very few Yorba Lindans donate money to candidates seeking to represent residents on the City Council and fewer still ever attend a fundraising event for a council contender.
In the 10 years I’ve been writing this column, I’ve reviewed hundreds of pages of campaign finance documents, and I’d estimate less than one percent of the city’s population has given money to any candidate in a two-year election cycle.
And while I’m still among the vast majority of non-givers, I attended my first political fundraiser earlier this month at the personal invitation of Councilman Hank Wedaa.
“You don’t need to contribute, and you can bring your notebook and talk to anyone you want,” Wedaa said, waiving the $50 ticket donation price for a casino night at the Yorba Linda Country Club.
Based on the campaigns for some past candidates and ballot measures I’ve studied, I had imagined fundraising involved collecting many-zeroed checks from developers and other building-related interests who wanted to influence or ensure access to council members.
For example, the single-most expensive effort in Yorba Linda history was the $174,000 raised to defeat the citizen-sponsored Right-to-Vote on Land Use Amendments initiative.
Not one Yorba Linda resident or business was listed on the state-required finance forms filed during and after the unsuccessful campaign to defeat Measure B in 2006. All of the money came from outside-the-city sources solicited by the Building Industry Association.
But the Wedaa event involved many Yorba Linda residents playing poker, roulette and 21 in games provided by Planning Commissioner Paul Wohlt, who, with his wife, runs casino-type fundraisers as a part-time retirement job.
I didn’t see any big checks change hands, but I’ll bet spirited live auction bidding and silent auction tables—organized mostly by equestrian enthusiasts and Yorba Linda Residents for Responsible Representation board members—raised much of the cash.
I’ll have to wait to view the next financial filings to establish the exact amount Wedaa accumulated at this election’s first public fundraising event to pay expenses in his ninth race for a council seat.
And, of course, I’ll entertain invitations to fundraisers sponsored by other council, water board or school trustee candidates, as long as I can bring my notebook and maintain my status as a columnist who doesn’t contribute to campaign treasuries.
A FINAL NOTE
The political action committee Yorba Linda Residents for Responsible Representation will announce endorsements for three City Council and two water board positions on the November ballot no later than May 1, according to founding board member Ed Rakochy.
Interviewing candidates seeking the grassroots group’s support are longtime residents Bill Davis, Sharlene Dunn and Tom Lynch, who also recommended YLRRR endorse eventual winners John Anderson and Jan Horton in the 2006 council contest.
The five endorsed candidates will be introduced at a public meeting in May, Rakochy said.
In the 10 years I’ve been writing this column, I’ve reviewed hundreds of pages of campaign finance documents, and I’d estimate less than one percent of the city’s population has given money to any candidate in a two-year election cycle.
And while I’m still among the vast majority of non-givers, I attended my first political fundraiser earlier this month at the personal invitation of Councilman Hank Wedaa.
“You don’t need to contribute, and you can bring your notebook and talk to anyone you want,” Wedaa said, waiving the $50 ticket donation price for a casino night at the Yorba Linda Country Club.
Based on the campaigns for some past candidates and ballot measures I’ve studied, I had imagined fundraising involved collecting many-zeroed checks from developers and other building-related interests who wanted to influence or ensure access to council members.
For example, the single-most expensive effort in Yorba Linda history was the $174,000 raised to defeat the citizen-sponsored Right-to-Vote on Land Use Amendments initiative.
Not one Yorba Linda resident or business was listed on the state-required finance forms filed during and after the unsuccessful campaign to defeat Measure B in 2006. All of the money came from outside-the-city sources solicited by the Building Industry Association.
But the Wedaa event involved many Yorba Linda residents playing poker, roulette and 21 in games provided by Planning Commissioner Paul Wohlt, who, with his wife, runs casino-type fundraisers as a part-time retirement job.
I didn’t see any big checks change hands, but I’ll bet spirited live auction bidding and silent auction tables—organized mostly by equestrian enthusiasts and Yorba Linda Residents for Responsible Representation board members—raised much of the cash.
I’ll have to wait to view the next financial filings to establish the exact amount Wedaa accumulated at this election’s first public fundraising event to pay expenses in his ninth race for a council seat.
And, of course, I’ll entertain invitations to fundraisers sponsored by other council, water board or school trustee candidates, as long as I can bring my notebook and maintain my status as a columnist who doesn’t contribute to campaign treasuries.
A FINAL NOTE
The political action committee Yorba Linda Residents for Responsible Representation will announce endorsements for three City Council and two water board positions on the November ballot no later than May 1, according to founding board member Ed Rakochy.
Interviewing candidates seeking the grassroots group’s support are longtime residents Bill Davis, Sharlene Dunn and Tom Lynch, who also recommended YLRRR endorse eventual winners John Anderson and Jan Horton in the 2006 council contest.
The five endorsed candidates will be introduced at a public meeting in May, Rakochy said.
posted by Jim Drummond at 12:00 PM
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