Raising campaign funds is never-ending chore

Raising money to finance the next campaign is a never-ending chore for politicians at all governing levels, but the task is especially challenging in such small-pocket environments as the biennial contests for positions on Yorba Linda's five-member City Council.

I've been examining this city's state-required campaign finance documents for close to 20 years, and I've never seen more than a tiny fraction of Yorba Linda residents and businesses contribute to the election effort of any candidate seeking to set the city's future direction.

The city's latest filings were due by Jan. 31, covering the second-half of 2013, with a section summarizing the full year's activity, and again only a couple dozen residents and businesses are listed among donors.

Sadly, the small number of locals who financially support candidates leaves some contenders underfinanced, while others who accept cash from special interests, such as builders, political action committees and so-called “independent expenditure” groups, have a clear advantage.

Given the rough nature of this city's politics, it's not surprising one incumbent was raising funds last year for an election three years ahead. Gene Hernandez, running for a second term in 2016, pulled in $10,339 in contributions of $100 or more.

Of that total, $1,234 came from residents and businesses in Yorba Linda, with the remainder from individuals, businesses and political action committees outside the city. Another $1,060 came in donations of $99 or less that don't have to be listed individually.

Hernandez had $6,574 remaining Jan. 1, after expenditures, including repaying himself $3,000 from a loan he made his 2012 campaign. Generally, candidates loan rather than contribute money to their campaigns, hoping to repay themselves from future donations.

Tom Lindsey, seeking a second term in this year's ballot for two positions, took in $6,899 in contributions of $100 or more, with $6,099 from Yorba Linda residents and businesses and an additional $543 in donations of $99 or less. He had $5,535 on hand Jan. 1.

John Anderson, who completes a second term this year, folded a fundraising committee early last year. Mark Schwing, whose fifth term ends in 2016, has said he won't run then.

Craig Young is raising cash for his campaign for one of 80 state Assembly seats, but he did take in $198 in council donations of $99 or less, with a $1,395 balance Jan. 1 and an outstanding $21,500 loan from his Lincoln Partners firm from his 2012 campaign.

Of local Assembly candidates filing reports, Young is third in funds, with $30,758 raised last year and a $9,830 balance Jan. 1. Phillip Chen led with $513,772 and a $459,609 balance, with Ling-Ling Chang second with $303,306 and a $276,459 balance.

Current Assemblyman Curt Hagman raised $195,303 for a 2016 state Senate run and has $91,974 in another campaign account. Senator Bob Huff raised $323,345 for an Assembly race in 2016 and has $162,498 in two other accounts.