Some Yorba Linda City Council candidates report significant fundraising for the November election

Five of the seven candidates seeking three Yorba Linda City Council positions on the Nov. 8 ballot reported significant fundraising activity this year on state-required financial disclosures filed with City Clerk Marcia Brown by Sept. 12.

Incumbents Gene Hernandez and Craig Young and first-time candidates Tara Campbell, Beth Haney and Cristy Parker have raised $122,190 for the campaign so far, based on semiannual filings and later supplementary statements. Further reports are due Sept. 29 and Oct. 27.

Young raised the most money, $39,986 in donations, with $34,594 on hand at last reporting. His largest donor was the Lincoln Club with $9,000, followed by $5,000 from Costa Mesa-based developer Khosro Khaloghi. Of 74 contributors, 28 had Yorba Linda addresses.

Hernandez raised $26,543, and, with previously reported cash, had $35,017 at last reporting.

His largest contribution was $5,000 from Prime Healthcare of Ontario. Of 76 contributors, 26 had Yorba Linda addresses.

Campbell raised $23,662, the largest in donations and in-kind contributions of $9,171 from parents Jim and Lynn Campbell, with $19,476 on hand at last reporting. Of 44 contributors, 21 had Yorba Linda addresses. Campbell is endorsed by Hernandez and Young, and she returns the support.

Parker has received $16,999 in contributions and loans from two local residents who are active in the Yorba Linda Taxpayers Association, Kay Dotson and Kent Ebinger. Parker is the taxpayers group's sole endorsement in the council contest, coming after the endorsement of four contenders in the regular and recall elections in the water district.

Beth Haney has reported $15,000 in loans from her business, Lux Aesthetic and Wellness Center. Paul Dippolito and Ryan Smith hadn't reported any donations or loans as of Monday.

Not all well-moneyed candidates and causes are winners. Three candidates who spent more than $40,000 each in past elections placed poorly, and the all-time record of $174,150 raised to defeat the “right-to-vote” Measure B in 2006 fell short as the measure edged a 299-vote win.

Among political action committees active in past council races is the taxpayers association, which reported $16,050 in all-local contributions and $12,000 in loans, with $6,791 on hand at last reporting, plus an unpaid $5,500 legal bill. The committee files with the Registrar of Voters in Santa Ana rather than the City Clerk's office.

Residents for a Better Yorba Linda spent $15,000 of an $18,000 donation from the Building Industry of Southern California to support Hernandez in his winning campaign in June for one of six local seats on the county Republican Central Committee – an all-time high for any local candidate for that position. The group had $1,298 on hand at last reporting.

Yorba Linda Residents for Responsible Representation took in $3,505 from two garage sales and had $794 left after paying expenses to three local benefactors.