In the final sprint to Tuesday’s election, Democrats Salud Carbajal and Gregg Hart have far outdistanced their opponents in campaign fundraising.
Carbajal, a three-term congressman from Santa Barbara, has raised $2.1 million in his bid for re-election representing the 24th Congressional District. His Republican opponent, Dr. Brad Allen, has raised $26,500, according to the latest campaign finance reports.
Hart, Santa Barbara County’s Second District supervisor who is running for the 37th Assembly District seat, has raised $726,000, leading his Republican opponent, Mike Stoker, who has raised $244,000.
Campaign fundraising is often an indicator of the success of a campaign, or at the least, how hard a candidate is working to promote themselves during the race.
While large gaps exist in the larger, more regional races, the hyperlocal school board races are much closer.
In the Santa Barbara Unified School District, incumbent Rose Muñoz is in a tight race against challenger Phebe Mansur in District 4.
Mansur, endorsed by the Santa Barbara County Republican Party, leads in fundraising with about $4,430. Her largest single donations are $950 from Stand Up Santa Barbara, a grassroots parents rights group, and $500 from the Stephen Richard Thomas Living Trust.
Muñoz, endorsed by the Santa Barbara County Democratic Party, has raised about $3,500. Her largest donations include $500 each from former Santa Barbara Mayor Cathy Murillo and real estate agent Miguel Avila.
The other Santa Barbara school board race on the ballot, District 1, features a three-way battle between retired school district employee Efi Banales, UC Santa Barbara manager Gabe Escobedo and nonprofit director Dan La Berge.
Escobedo leads in fundraising with about $10,350. His largest donations include $500 each from the Santa Barbara Women’s Political Committee and the Democratic Women of Santa Barbara County, and $400 from Planned Parenthood Central Coast Action Fund. He is endorsed by the Santa Barbara County Democratic Party.
La Berge has raised about $3,000, according to campaign filing statements. He received $600 from David Kroger, a designer, and $500 from Joan Wagolis, a retiree.
Banales has not reported any campaign fundraising in public documents.
In Goleta, Christy Lozano, who is coming off a high-profile but unsuccessful bid for Santa Barbara County schools superintendent, is looking to win the District 3 seat on the Goleta Union School District board.
Lozano leads in fundraising with $17,800. She is endorsed by the Santa Barbara County Republican Party and enjoys support from an array of conservatives. Her largest donations include $950 from Stand Up Santa Barbara and $200 from retiree John Warkentin. She also transferred about $15,000 that was left over from her previous campaign for superintendent to her school board campaign.
Her opponent, Emily Zacarias, is endorsed by the Santa Barbara County Democratic Party and is running a robust ground and social media campaign. She received $1,300 from the Democratic Women of Santa Barbara County and $1,000 from John MacFarlane.
A third candidate for District 3, small business owner Bert Haley, has not reported any campaign fundraising, according to public documents.
In Goleta’s school board District 1, Caroline Abate is challenging longtime incumbent Richard Mayer for the seat.
Abate is endorsed by the Santa Barbara County Republican Party. Her largest contributions came from her husband, Mark Abate, at $5,000 and Rolland Jacks, at $1,000.
Mayer, who has served on the Goleta school board for 40 years, did not report raising any money.
In Santa Barbara City College Board of Trustees District Area 1, candidate Charlotte Gullap-Moore raised $17,500, with her largest donations of $400 from Justin Roddick and $300 from retiree Sunny Crandell. Her opponent, Debi Stoker, reported raising $3,670.
In the Assembly race, Hart’s largest donations include $4,900 each from Govern for California Courage Committee, Santa Barbara Chapter, and the State Affiliated Cops Prop. 34 Committee.
Stoker has received $1,000 each from Realtor Renee Grubb and financial services executive Tim Tremblay.
In the campaigns for two Goleta City Council seats, incumbent James Kyriaco has raised $62,000 in his bid for District 2, with his largest contributions from the Sheet Metal Workers International Association, for $4,900, and the Southern California District Council of Laborers PAC, for $1,500.
His opponent, Sam Ramirez, has raised $11,000, with his largest contributions from the Goleta Valley Chamber of Commerce Political Action Committee for $1,000 and $250 from Molly Campbell.
In the race for the District 1 seat, challenger Luz Reyes-Martin has raised $60,000, with contributions of $2,500 each from the Laborers Local 220 Political Action Committee and Service Employees International Union Local 620.
Incumbent Roger Aceves has raised about $38,000, with contributions of $5,000 from the Santa Ynez Band of Mission Indians and $4,900 from The Towbes Group.
— Noozhawk staff writer Joshua Molina can be reached at jmolina@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.
