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Falcone, Thyne Lead Way in Race for Election Cash
Santa Barbara’s political hopefuls have been fundraising up a storm, according to campaign filing reports released last week. Mayoral candidate Iya Falcone is leading the pack with $63,164 raised this year through June 30, and, with $54,162, council candidate John Thyne is more than $30,000 ahead of his competition.
The biggest spender was First Texas Homes president Randall Van Wolfswinkel, who contributed $30,000 to pro-Measure B groups and $8,000 to council candidates who back the building-heights initiative: $5,000 to Michael Self and $3,000 to Frank Hotchkiss. Wolfswinkel, whose company is based in Arlington, Texas, owns a home in Montecito.
As of July 31, several candidates had not yet filed campaign statements, meaning they haven’t acquired the $5,000 minimum making it necessary to do so. Mayoral candidates Dale Francisco, Isaac Garrett, Bob Hansen and Justin Michael have not yet filed statements, nor have council candidates Lane Anderson and Bonnie Raisin.
Key
The following information is taken from recently filed campaign donation disclosure reports.
Money raised: Contributions this period (Jan. 1-July 31), which includes cash, loans and nonmonetary contributions
On hand: Money on hand after expenditures during this filing period
Big spenders: The largest financial contributors to the candidate’s campaign, as reported
Endorsements: Political individuals or organizations that were reported as financially supporting the candidate during this filing period (if any)
Mayoral Campaign
Iya Falcone
Money raised: $63,164
On hand: $29,564
Big spenders: Santa Barbara Police Officers Association, $7,500 ($12,000 including other filing periods); Santa Barbara City Firefighters Association Inc., $2,500; Santa Barbara County Firefighter Government Committee, $2,500
Endorsements: Moorpark Mayor Janice Parvin
Helene Schneider
Money raised: $44,920
On hand: $42,902
Big spenders: Ronnie Blitz, Marvin Blitz Investments, $7,500; AWIN Management Inc., $5,000
Endorsements: Democratic Women of Santa Barbara County; Goleta Mayor Roger Aceves; Santa Barbara City Councilman Das Williams
Steve Cushman
Money raised: $37,775
On hand: $16,025
Big spenders: Cushman himself, $15,000; attorneys Judy and Rob Egenolf, $2,500
City Council Campaign
John Thyne
Money raised: $54,162
On hand: $46,058
Big spenders: Actor Thomas Thyne (brother) $20,000; real estate broker Ray Mahboon, $10,000 (including all filing periods)
Harwood “Bendy” White
Money raised: $22,709
On hand: $22,709
Big spenders: No amount larger than $1,000 reported
Endorsements: Democratic Women of Santa Barbara County; Santa Barbara city Planning Commissioner Charmaine Jacobs; Santa Barbara Mayor Marty Blum and her husband, Dr. Joe Blum
Dianne Channing
Money raised: $17,659
On hand: $9,657
Big spenders: No amount larger than $1,000 reported
Endorsements: Democratic Women of Santa Barbara County; Goleta Mayor Roger Aceves; Santa Barbara Mayor Marty Blum and her husband, Dr. Joe Blum; Santa Barbara City Councilman Das Williams
David Pritchett
Money raised: $14,200
On hand: $3,528
Big spenders: Political consultant Rebecca Christenson, $4,150; KCSB news director Cathy Murillo (spouse) $2,500
Grant House (incumbent)
Money raised: $12,858
On hand: $11,267
Big spenders: No amount larger than $500 reported
Endorsements: Democratic Women of Santa Barbara County
Justin Tevis
Money raised: $12,569
On hand: $2,251
Big spenders: Jeff Langan, $9,725
Michael Self
Money raised: $12,399
On hand: $11,659
Big spenders: Texas developer Randall Van Wolfswinkel, $5,000
Olivia Uribe
Money raised: $12,180
On hand: $8,767
Big spenders: Real estate investor Fernand Sarrat, $2,125; investor and writer Russell Trenholme, $2,000
Cathie McCammon
Money raised: $10,868
On hand: $10,804
Big spenders: McCammon herself, $7,000; Allied Neighborhoods Association member Judith Orias, $1,600
Frank Hotchkiss
Money raised: $10,849
On hand: $7,022
Big spenders: Texas developer Randall Van Wolfswinkel, $3,000; Lincoln Club of Santa Barbara County, $2,000
Measure B supporters — Building-height limits initiative
Save El Pueblo Viejo
Money raised: $23,779
On hand: $18,621
Big spenders: Texas developer Randall Van Wolfswinkel, $5,000
Preserve Our Santa Barbara Political Action Committee
Money raised: $25,200
On hand: $ 17,518
Big spenders: Texas developer Randall Van Wolfswinkel, $25,000
Candidates who have endorsed Measure B: Channing, Francisco, Hotchkiss, McCammon, Pritchett, Self, White
— Noozhawk staff writer Giana Magnoli can be reached at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
Comments
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» on 08.03.09 @ 06:56 AM
If they take money from the unions—vote them out—they are just pawns and have no interest in protectiong the tax payer..
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» on 08.03.09 @ 07:21 AM
I’m always the most suspicious of who has raised the most campaign contributions. It has no relation to who is the most electable, only who has the most powerful special interests behind them. The most influence and the most influenced.
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» on 08.03.09 @ 08:39 AM
Speaking of “special interests”, why is most of the money for Michael Self and Frank Hotchkiss coming from a Texan developer - the same guy who is bankrolling the entire Preserve our Santa Barbara PAC? The only thing they preserve in Texas is the Alamo.
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» on 08.03.09 @ 08:43 AM
Unfortunately, there’s a direct correlation with who’s elected and the amount of money raised. There are exceptions when the candidate is very well known and does a lot of walking/talking.
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» on 08.03.09 @ 09:03 AM
I wonder if Thyne’s brother wants his 20K back now that we know Thyne is on probation and was caught drinking again. Maybe we’ll make history by electing a councilman who is in jail during the election. I wonder if they’d give Thyne an excused absence or maybe he could just call in to council meetings from prison….
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» on 08.03.09 @ 10:24 AM
Lane Anderson is running a campaign based on talking to people, not raising piles of cash, making promises and falling into greed trap. But does he have a chance? Probably not. Raising money is part of this game. I want to know what Thyne and FAlcone really have to offer. All the candidates seem so different, with different backgrounds adn goals. I am waiting for the in depth stories to know more. I care more about experience and positions on health care, affordable housing, worker’s rights. So much hatred of unions. My grandpa was a steelworker. Unions are not bad!
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» on 08.03.09 @ 10:34 AM
They had paid off the council members to get their raises and huge pensions. Looks pretty clear to most of us…
Take your skirts off boys and take your city back…
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» on 08.03.09 @ 10:44 AM
Did Noozhawk ever do a piece on Thyne? Other than blogged allegations, do we know what he stands for?
To the critic of Texas, you should read a very interesting comparison in The Economist an issue or two ago comparing Texas (thriving) and California (essentially bankrupt) and how the two compare in dealing with such things as personal freedoms, taxes, oil, immigration, land use, etc. Never know, ya might learn something.
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» on 08.03.09 @ 02:52 PM
Not long ago we observed the 40th anniversary of our first moon landing.
Chronicling the run-up to the Apollo program, Tom Wolfe wrote a classic, “The Right Stuff,” about the pilots, engineers, first astronaut corps, NASA executives, research scientists, and their families, who seized “impossible” challenges and long odds, and brought us safely through to success.
Now there are 30 or 40 self-important Pygmies, seeking to become our next Santa
Barbara mayor and city council. Give me a break.
The article does a good job of listing some major candidate donors, and who has
some cash on hand. That’s not nothing.
But which, if any, of them have “The Right Stuff” to help steer Santa Barbara through all our national, state, local financial challenges into a new era of quality, safety, community greatness? No answers there.
As the election nears, Noozhawk should drill deeper, and let us know.
Amazing, isn’t it, that all claim to have “the answers” for our needs.
But few have taken time to publicly share those “answers” with the City during the current financial crises, when it might have done some good. Why not?
Some of these candidates sound so lame or one-dimensional that it’s actually
possible that some of them are running just for the (small) money and health
benefit package.
But thank you, Noozhawk, for identifying “Texas developer Randall Van Wolfswinkel”
as the big money behind candidates Michael “I hated roundabouts” Self, Frank
“I was an actor” Hotchkiss, and the latest pro-growth Republican shell group, “Preserve our Santa Barbara Political Action Committee”.
That’s rich. Texas developer Randall van Wolswinkel? Sounds like something out of
any old Saturday Night Live skit.
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» on 08.03.09 @ 02:58 PM
Thyne….violates probation for his DUI while running for council. I don’t think the guy is that stupid, which leads me to believe he is simply an alcoholic. Last thing we need is someone like him running our city. I don’t care how much money him and his brother donate out of their own pockets.
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» on 08.03.09 @ 03:31 PM
I have to agree with “Long Time Resident” regarding the need for more in-depth checking and reporting this election year. It is required due to the large number of candidates running for Mayor and Council, as well as the intrigue alluded to by LTR concerning Measure B and this Texas housing developer.
In the Noozhawk article it alleges both of the organizations listed are pro-Measure B groups, but the Independent states that the “Preserve Our Santa Barbara” PAC is based in LA. What’s the real story?
Also, your article states that David Pritchett has endorsed Measure B. Is that true? I thought he was against Measure B. David - if you’re out there please verify one way or another.
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» on 08.03.09 @ 04:14 PM
Why would anyone think that city council candidate David Pritchet was against Measure B, the building heights limitation ballot initiative?
Based on what evidence would anyone assume Pritchet is for or against it either way?
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» on 08.03.09 @ 05:33 PM
All the candidates should be FOR the initiative. Have you seen the monster buildings, the one up against the creek, cartoonish and like an Italian villa going up, up, up. Jeff Bermant and William Levy have control over everything in this town. But don’t vote for Bendy White because HE APPROVED ALL OF THOSE BUILDINGS. The developers are using the affordable housing advocates to get what they want,less regulations.
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» on 08.03.09 @ 07:29 PM
They are all a joke…
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» on 08.03.09 @ 08:42 PM
David Pritchett has said he’s for Measure B. He’s even listed on the Save El Pueblo Viejo website: http://saveelpuebloviejo.org
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» on 08.03.09 @ 08:43 PM
Diane Channing raised more than Grant House. I’ve always liked her but didn’t think she had it in her.
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» on 08.03.09 @ 11:01 PM
John Locke, There’s blogged allegations and there are certain candidates criminal records.
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» on 08.04.09 @ 05:53 AM
Why does it cost this much to run? Take that 300’ and help teachers and homeless. I respect JMIKE. He is running purely on social media and word of mouth. Now that’s giving back.
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» on 08.04.09 @ 07:49 AM
Hmmmm—the biggest contributor for pro-Measure B initiative and supporters is a millionaire Texas home builder? Texas, where residential sprawl is a way of life and planning codes are endangered species? Geeez, SB politics go way beyond “strange bedfellows” - but the saying “you lay down with dogs, you get up with fleas,” takes on freshened significance.
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» on 08.04.09 @ 09:11 AM
This is a women paid off by the unuions. She never saw a tax or raise she dndn’t like—union shill—take your city back from these corrupt council members.
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» on 08.04.09 @ 09:17 AM
This guy is ia union nut case—Not good for you and I, and hold onto your wallet with him.
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» on 08.05.09 @ 08:13 AM
Strange but true. Frankly, I don’t think the public will support J Thyne since his alcohol problems are so recent, and it does point to some potential problems down the road. Recovery takes time, and he hasn’t been sober long enough for most to believe he is in control to handle this pressure or this type of responsibility. Common knowledge around town, Ms. Falcone has an alcohol problem too. Just what we need, right? I want healthy candidates that will show up for work!
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» on 08.18.09 @ 01:32 PM
I’ve been reading so much lately about people knocking this “Van Wolfswinkel Texan” guy, but rarely does anyone mention he is a Santa Barbara native, that grew up here, went to school here, owns a home here and apparently spends a great deal of time here. he’s a developer that is supporting Measure B, which if I understand correctly — limits development…
Maybe he’s like us and fed up with our city council being run by corrupt politicians. And when someone like him with money steps up and puts his money into things to help change, and all we do is attack him for doing so, how do we expect good people to run for office and win?
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