Early Lead in Fundraising
[ Excerpt from SBN-P article by BARNEY McMANIGAL, 2/7/2005 ]
... Leading the pack in early fundraising for what could be a record-breaking race for county supervisor, Das Williams took in close to $28,000 last year -- $25,000 of it from one man.
The Santa Barbara city councilman's large gift from Montecito philanthropist Peter Sperling exceeded totals raised by the three other candidates for the June 6 race to succeed retiring Supervisor Susan Rose.
For the same six-month period that ended Dec. 31, 2005, former Goleta school board member Janet Wolf reported raising $17,300, while former Councilman Dan Secord raised $8,600, according to records released this week.
A fourth candidate, county emergency services specialist Joe Guzzardi, claimed no campaign cash for that period but did not file papers until this year.
The totals reveal a strong early start for Mr. Williams but shed no light on candidates' subsequent fundraising in the race for 2nd District supervisor.
... Mr. Sperling, an executive at Internet software company CallWave, contributed $7,500 to Mr. Williams' 2003 council race. He has also donated to a variety of liberal causes, including efforts to preserve Ellwood Mesa and to defeat the 2002 recall of former Supervisor Gail Marshall.
... Mr. Williams said the donation reflected support for his environmental policies.
"I think he respects my courage and wants to see more than anything our urban ag land and the Gaviota coast preserved, and that I have the ability to accomplish that," Mr. Williams said.
All four candidates have worked around the clock this year raising money for the hotly contested race, which will be decided in June if one contender captures more than 50 percent of the vote. If no challenger triumphs, the top two finishers would face off in November.
Candidates have until March 22 to disclose money raised this year, but several already say they have augmented their coffers considerably...
Both Dr. Secord, a Republican who held a $100-per-plate dinner attended by 100 people in January, and Ms. Wolf, a Democrat, declined to say how much they raised this year.
Mr. Williams, a Democrat, estimates that he has received $10,000 this year.
Dr. Secord said he plans to raise between $300,000 and $350,000. Ms. Wolf cites a $275,000 target, and Mr. Williams is aiming for $240,000.
Despite his limited fundraising efforts last year, Dr. Secord said he was in a good position. "This is just the beginning," he said.
Ms. Wolf said she plans to hold a series of fundraisers but will also focus on door-to-door visits with constituents -- something Mr. Williams emphasizes, as well...
One potentially critical factor in the campaign could be the level of neighborhood support that surfaces for a candidate. Mr. Guzzardi, who lacks party support, is depending on a large grass-roots turnout.
To some extent, it appears he may have it.
Members of the Goleta Valley-based Coalition for Sensible Planning have indicated they will rally behind Mr. Guzzardi's campaign.
Coalition President Gary Earle said Mr. Guzzardi could draw strong support from neighbors concerned about efforts to build high density housing in their backyard.
"Because Joe has declared he will not take money from housing developers, we will run a frugal but effective campaign," Mr. Earle said, comparing Mr. Guzzardi's campaign to the biblical tale of David and Goliath. "We recognize this is a David versus Goliath struggle, but the last time I checked, David won."
e-mail: bmcmanigal@newspress.com
Santa Barbara News-Press
... Leading the pack in early fundraising for what could be a record-breaking race for county supervisor, Das Williams took in close to $28,000 last year -- $25,000 of it from one man.
The Santa Barbara city councilman's large gift from Montecito philanthropist Peter Sperling exceeded totals raised by the three other candidates for the June 6 race to succeed retiring Supervisor Susan Rose.
For the same six-month period that ended Dec. 31, 2005, former Goleta school board member Janet Wolf reported raising $17,300, while former Councilman Dan Secord raised $8,600, according to records released this week.
A fourth candidate, county emergency services specialist Joe Guzzardi, claimed no campaign cash for that period but did not file papers until this year.
The totals reveal a strong early start for Mr. Williams but shed no light on candidates' subsequent fundraising in the race for 2nd District supervisor.
... Mr. Sperling, an executive at Internet software company CallWave, contributed $7,500 to Mr. Williams' 2003 council race. He has also donated to a variety of liberal causes, including efforts to preserve Ellwood Mesa and to defeat the 2002 recall of former Supervisor Gail Marshall.
... Mr. Williams said the donation reflected support for his environmental policies.
"I think he respects my courage and wants to see more than anything our urban ag land and the Gaviota coast preserved, and that I have the ability to accomplish that," Mr. Williams said.
All four candidates have worked around the clock this year raising money for the hotly contested race, which will be decided in June if one contender captures more than 50 percent of the vote. If no challenger triumphs, the top two finishers would face off in November.
Candidates have until March 22 to disclose money raised this year, but several already say they have augmented their coffers considerably...
Both Dr. Secord, a Republican who held a $100-per-plate dinner attended by 100 people in January, and Ms. Wolf, a Democrat, declined to say how much they raised this year.
Mr. Williams, a Democrat, estimates that he has received $10,000 this year.
Dr. Secord said he plans to raise between $300,000 and $350,000. Ms. Wolf cites a $275,000 target, and Mr. Williams is aiming for $240,000.
Despite his limited fundraising efforts last year, Dr. Secord said he was in a good position. "This is just the beginning," he said.
Ms. Wolf said she plans to hold a series of fundraisers but will also focus on door-to-door visits with constituents -- something Mr. Williams emphasizes, as well...
One potentially critical factor in the campaign could be the level of neighborhood support that surfaces for a candidate. Mr. Guzzardi, who lacks party support, is depending on a large grass-roots turnout.
To some extent, it appears he may have it.
Members of the Goleta Valley-based Coalition for Sensible Planning have indicated they will rally behind Mr. Guzzardi's campaign.
Coalition President Gary Earle said Mr. Guzzardi could draw strong support from neighbors concerned about efforts to build high density housing in their backyard.
"Because Joe has declared he will not take money from housing developers, we will run a frugal but effective campaign," Mr. Earle said, comparing Mr. Guzzardi's campaign to the biblical tale of David and Goliath. "We recognize this is a David versus Goliath struggle, but the last time I checked, David won."
e-mail: bmcmanigal@newspress.com
Santa Barbara News-Press
Posted by Malcolm on
2/07/2006
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