Campaign Contributions To Lake Elsinore Candidates Made Public

Campaign contributions to candidates running in two local state races have been made public, and the war chests are almost equal among the all-Republican field of state assembly contenders.

In the bid for the 67th State Assembly seat, which includes Lake Elsinore and Wildomar, the Secretary of State website is reporting that campaign contributions covering the period Jan. 1, 2011 through Dec. 31, 2011 were close among the candidates, but Murrieta Valley Unified School District board member Ken Dickson was the leader with reported total contributions of $101,545. His ending cash after expenditures for the period was $99,999.11.

Two Lake Elsinore City Council members running for the assembly seat also reported their contributions, expenditures and ending cash for the same period.

Councilman Bob Magee showed $86,783.00 in contributions and $56,247.84 in ending cash.

Councilwoman Melissa Melendez reported contributions of $75,687.48 and $65,953.60 in ending cash.

Phil Paule, who serves as district director for Congressman Darrell Issa (R-Vista), has been a vocal contender in the 67th Assembly District race. His reported contributions contradict a claim made last month by his campaign that touted the candidate as the money “frontrunner” in the four-person field. (Click here to read that story.)

According to the Secretary of State, Paule reported $87,511.74 in contributions and $52,439.01 in ending cash, which falls short of Dickson's reported contributions.

Redistricting has shifted political boundaries. Currently, Lake Elsinore and Wildomar fall into the 66th Assembly District represented by Kevin Jeffries (R-Lake Elsinore). Jeffries terms out in November and has announced his bid for a seat on the Riverside County Board of Supervisors.

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