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Campaign contributions by developers and the Pleasanton Chamber of Commerce to selected candidates and measures in the Nov. 4 municipal races are outpacing all other donations by a wide margin.
An examination of Form 460 statements for the filing period that ended Oct. 18 shows that Greenbriar Homes contributed $10,000 to the Chamber’s Political Action Committee and another $10,000 to the Citizens for Ridgeline Protection Committee for Measure QQ. Also contributing $10,000 to the Measure QQ group was the Homebuilders Association of Northern California, headquartered in San Ramon, and a Diablo resident, Juanita Del Arroz, who collects and shows classic automobiles.
Among other large contributors to the Chamber’s PAC was Ponderosa Homes, with a $1,000 donation, and a $500 contribution from Joseph Sasek of Pleasanton.
The Chamber PAC, with a total of $20,275 received by Oct. 18, has spent $12,102, mainly for printing campaign materials and in postage for the two candidates it is supporting: Mayor Jennifer Hosterman and Jerry Pentin.
With regard to Measures PP and QQ that concern hillside protection regulations, the chamber, which has endorsed Measure QQ, has allocated $2,901 in “non-monetary” contributions used for printing materials and postage to QQ, and another $3,111 in “independent expenditures” to oppose PP.
Among the candidates, Hosterman leads the field with $28,971 raised so far against $9,705 contributed in the same period to Steve Brozosky in his bid to unseat her as mayor on Nov. 4. That’s well under the $63,363 Brozosky had raised at this time in 2006, when he also ran for mayor.
Close behind Hosterman in contributions is City Council candidate Jerry Pentin with $22,236 raised so far. In the same period, councilmembers Cindy McGovern and Matt Sullivan trail in contributions, with Sullivan reporting $10,195 as of Nov. 18 and McGovern reporting $9,475 in the same period.
For the most part, McGovern’s contributors gave $25 to $100, with her largest contribution totaling $250 from Tom Richert of Richert Lumber.
Sullivan’s contributions also have been in the same range, with his highest contribution totaling $500, coming from Greg O’Connor, a member of the Pleasanton Planning Commission.
Pentin’s contributors gave more, with numerous $100 and $200 individual contributions, and a donation of $500 from the California Real Estate Political Action Committee.
Hosterman’s contributions included $5,000 from Belinda Sarich, $1,000 from the California Apartment Association Political Action Committee, $500 from the Electrical Workers Local 595 PAC, $500 from local investor James Tong, $500 from Mona Sharif of Los Gatos, and contributions of printed materials and postage totaling $7,000 from the Pleasanton Chamber.
The final campaign finance reporting period before the election is at 5 p.m. today, Oct. 31, with a year-end wrap up of all contributions and expenditures by Dec. 31.
For campaign contribution information and details, go to www.netfile.com/agency/copy/.
