Union enters city politics with big bucks
A new, deep-pocket special interest group joined Yorba Linda’s political arena this year, but, as often happens with outside organizations, the body’s leaders and consultants mis-read this city’s electoral climate and might have done their cause as much harm as good.
Voters were inundated with campaign material from an “independent expenditure” wing of the Association of Orange County Deputy Sheriff organization that represents officers who will begin patrolling this city’s streets in six months under a new police contract.
The deputy union supported Ken Peterson, Nancy Rikel and Mark Schwing for three City Council seats on this month’s ballot and spent lavishly on colorful, slick-paper flyers that were mailed to most of Yorba Linda’s 45,494 registered voters.
In October alone, independent expenditures totaled $62,030 for the trio, with bills paid from Oct. 21 through Dec. 31 not due for reporting until Jan. 31. The union reported a cash-on-hand total of $463,922 in the “independent expenditure” account as of Oct. 20.
The union also has two other entities registered with the California Secretary of State. A “political action committee” reported $116,000 cash available and an “issues committee” reported a balance of $11,732, both as of Sept. 30.
The political action committee has been active in supporting Democrats with large donations: the 2010 Jerry Brown effort received $41,300; Brown’s 2014 committee already has received $5,000; and the 2014 committees for Attorney General Kamala Harris and State Controller Bill Lockyer were given $2,000 and $1,000, respectively.
Another longtime beneficiary of the union’s political action committee is the Democratic Party of Orange County, given $15,700 since 2007. A few Republicans seeking partisan and non-partisan offices have received smaller contributions, mostly in the $500 to $1,500 range, in various primary and general election cycles.
The “issues committee” most recently spent $10,000 to oppose Proposition 32, which would have ended involuntary deductions from union member paychecks. The group also spent $9,950 supporting Measures J and K in Stanton in the June primary.
J, which was defeated, would have increased the city’s utility tax to “preserve” city services, and K, which passed, was an advisory vote to “prioritize” public safety in City Council deliberations on allocating city funds.
The union also has spent $94,450 on “general lobbying” from 2009 through Sept. 30 this year. The current lobbyist is San Dimas-based James Vogts, who also lobbies for five other police associations.
But this city’s voters didn’t go for a sweep of union-supported candidates, probably due to the ill-advised massive mailings. A similar situation took place in 2006, when voters narrowly approved Measure B, which requires a public vote on major land-use changes.
B opponents also overspent, with a $174,150 war chest from builder and real estate groups that paid for an onslaught of anti-B mailers, on occasion arriving two-a-day.
Yorba Lindans actually look to see who is paying to influence their votes.
Voters were inundated with campaign material from an “independent expenditure” wing of the Association of Orange County Deputy Sheriff organization that represents officers who will begin patrolling this city’s streets in six months under a new police contract.
The deputy union supported Ken Peterson, Nancy Rikel and Mark Schwing for three City Council seats on this month’s ballot and spent lavishly on colorful, slick-paper flyers that were mailed to most of Yorba Linda’s 45,494 registered voters.
In October alone, independent expenditures totaled $62,030 for the trio, with bills paid from Oct. 21 through Dec. 31 not due for reporting until Jan. 31. The union reported a cash-on-hand total of $463,922 in the “independent expenditure” account as of Oct. 20.
The union also has two other entities registered with the California Secretary of State. A “political action committee” reported $116,000 cash available and an “issues committee” reported a balance of $11,732, both as of Sept. 30.
The political action committee has been active in supporting Democrats with large donations: the 2010 Jerry Brown effort received $41,300; Brown’s 2014 committee already has received $5,000; and the 2014 committees for Attorney General Kamala Harris and State Controller Bill Lockyer were given $2,000 and $1,000, respectively.
Another longtime beneficiary of the union’s political action committee is the Democratic Party of Orange County, given $15,700 since 2007. A few Republicans seeking partisan and non-partisan offices have received smaller contributions, mostly in the $500 to $1,500 range, in various primary and general election cycles.
The “issues committee” most recently spent $10,000 to oppose Proposition 32, which would have ended involuntary deductions from union member paychecks. The group also spent $9,950 supporting Measures J and K in Stanton in the June primary.
J, which was defeated, would have increased the city’s utility tax to “preserve” city services, and K, which passed, was an advisory vote to “prioritize” public safety in City Council deliberations on allocating city funds.
The union also has spent $94,450 on “general lobbying” from 2009 through Sept. 30 this year. The current lobbyist is San Dimas-based James Vogts, who also lobbies for five other police associations.
But this city’s voters didn’t go for a sweep of union-supported candidates, probably due to the ill-advised massive mailings. A similar situation took place in 2006, when voters narrowly approved Measure B, which requires a public vote on major land-use changes.
B opponents also overspent, with a $174,150 war chest from builder and real estate groups that paid for an onslaught of anti-B mailers, on occasion arriving two-a-day.
Yorba Lindans actually look to see who is paying to influence their votes.
posted by Jim Drummond at 12:00 AM
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