Thursday, August 14, 2008

Campaign accounts at different levels

The political action committee Yorba Linda Residents for Responsible Representation needs to raise some serious cash if the grassroots group hopes to repeat successes from the past two city council elections.

At the end of the most recent reporting period, YLRRR had $53.60 in the bank. In the prior three years, the group raised $65,619 in cash—$28,247 in 2005, $33,068 in 2006 and $4,304 in 2007, all from local residents.

That money was spent on successful petition drives for Measure B—giving residents a vote on major changes to city planning documents—and to overturn the higher density Town Center zoning council approved in anticipation of a pro-B vote.

Also, YLRRR cash supported the council candidacies of winners John Anderson and Jan Horton in 2006 and Hank Wedaa in 2007, and the Measure B initiative, approved by 299 votes in 2006, despite $174,150 raised by developers to fight the proposal.

This year, the YLRRR board has set even higher electoral goals by endorsing three council candidates—Ed Rakochy, Nancy Rikel and Mark Schwing—and two water district director candidates—Cynthia Verdugo-Peralta and Dave Rosenberger.

Other items from the recently filed campaign finance reports include the following:

--Former Councilwoman Keri Wilson has the most cash-on-hand with $13,266 left from past campaigns and an outstanding, self-made $9,200 loan.

--Eighth-term Councilman Hank Wedaa has a $10,000 self-made loan and $11,532 from an April fundraiser with 38 named local contributors and a few out-of-town participants.

The latter included Lyle and Joan Overby; he’s a Shapell Industries consultant who runs “Committee for Improved Public Policy,” a developer-funded political action committee.

--Two council members whose terms expire in 2010—John Anderson and Jan Horton—have self-made loans totaling more than their cash-on-hand: Anderson has $6,633 and a $7,000 loan, while Horton has $3,560 and a $5,950 loan.

--Allen Castellano is the only debt-free council member with $3,453 cash. Mayor Jim Winder has $1,382 and a $2,000 self-made loan. Former Councilman Ken Ryan maintains $3,312 in his account.

A FINAL NOTE

Sue Fenwick adds to my recent column about oldtimer and newcomer experiences in Yorba Linda:

Old: the freshly squeezed lemonade her parents purchased at the original, rustic Knowlwood’s on Imperial, and LBJ and Goldwater signs posted in town—“I was interested in politics even way back then.”

New: her family still enjoys Knowlwood’s and notices signs for council candidates, “since some are already up again for November’s race.”