Politics & Government
Keeping Tabs On Local Campaign Contributions
Follow the money in two highly contested local political races.
Campaign contributions are public record, and following the money on local political races may make for an interesting look into what some might call “connect the dots.”
California’s Political Reform Act mandates that "… receipts and expenditures in election campaigns should be fully and truthfully disclosed in order that the voters may be fully informed ... "
In the box at the end of this article are links to access contributions made to candidates in two closely watched local races: the 67th State Assembly District contest and the Riverside County Board of Supervisors District 1 race.
Find out what's happening in Lake Elsinore-Wildomarwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
A quick look at some contributions made this month, for example, shows an electronic disclosure that Lake Elsinore City Councilwoman Melissa Melendez received two campaign contributions totaling $5,000 from her fellow Lake Elsinore city council member Mayor Pro Tem Daryl Hickman.
This year Melendez is running for the 67th District State Assembly, which includes both Lake Elsinore and Wildomar.
Find out what's happening in Lake Elsinore-Wildomarwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The electronic filing disclosure follows a March 13 City Council vote in which both Hickman and Melendez, along with fellow council member Peter Weber, made the decision to fire Lake Elsinore City Manager Bob Brady.
Also in March, Melendez received a $3,900 contribution from Steven L. Craig, president and CEO of Craig Realty Group. Craig’s company manages the Lake Elsinore Outlets mall.
Running against Melendez in the State Assembly race is Phil Paule, a top aide to U.S. Congressman Darrell Issa (R). In March Paule received a $1,000 contribution from the Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians. Paule’s boss penned legislation several years ago in which more than 1,000 acres of federal lands were handed over to the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians.
Two additional 67th State Assembly District contenders -- Lake Elsinore City Council member Bob Magee and Murrieta Valley Unified School District board member Ken Dickson -- are not showing any electronic contribution filings after Jan. 31. However, all the candidates have received money. to see their totals raised as of earlier this year.
Another closely watched contest is the Riverside County Board of Supervisors District 1 race, which includes Lake Elsinore and Wildomar. Electronic filings show that Care Ambulance Service of Orange, Calif., gave Supervisor Bob Buster $1,000 this month. Buster has been an advocate for updating the county’s aging emergency medical system in order to distinguish real trauma calls from those that are less severe. The Riverside County Board of Supervisors is also looking at whether to renew its long-held agreement with American Medical Response for county ambulance services or put the contract out to bid.
Among his donations this month, State Assemblyman Kevin Jeffries (R), who is running against Buster in the supervisor race, showed a $1,000 contribution from the Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians. The contribution comes after Jeffries remained neutral on the controversial issue of whether Watsonville, Calif.-based Granite Construction should be allowed to move forward with its Liberty Quarry project that would have seen mining on more than 400 acres near Temecula. The now-defeated project was in Jeffries’ district and was highly contested by the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians who claimed the land was sacred.
Although the contribution didn’t happen in March, it can’t be overlooked that Mike Soubirous, a former California Highway Patrol Lieutenant who is also running in the District 1 race, received a whopping $100,000 contribution in February from the Riverside Sheriffs Association Political Action Committee.
Follow the links below to see all the contributions and to stay on top of the money:
Follow campaign contribtutions in the 67th State Assembly District race by visiting the California Secretary of State website here. Scroll down and find the candidate you wish to view.
Follow campaign contributions in the Riverside County Board of Supervisors District 1 race by visiting the Riverside County Registrar of Voters website here. Enter the name of the candidate you wish to view.
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