Election 2004: Menlo council hopefuls drum up about three grand each, so far Election 2004: Menlo council hopefuls drum up about three grand each, so far (August 04, 2004)

** Referendum campaign against home-building rules raised $6,900.

By Rebecca Wallace
Almanac Staff Writer

Coins have started clinking into the coffers of two potential Menlo Park City Council candidates, with Kelly Fergusson raising $3,410 and Lorie Sinnott drumming up $2,950 in the first half of 2004.

The two planning commissioners filed finance statements for their campaign committees with City Clerk Silvia Vonderlinden last week, as required by state law.

Architect Michael Lambert, also an announced candidate, did not file because he has not yet set up an official campaign committee, Ms. Vonderlinden said.

A statement also came in from the Citizens for Sensible Neighborhood Development, a group spearheaded by Ms. Fergusson that earlier this year led a successful referendum petition drive against new home-building rules. The group reportedly raised $6,915 and spent $6,923 in the first six months of the year.

So far in the council campaign, Ms. Fergusson's major donors include her mother and father-in-law, who each gave her $500. Retired residents and referendum supporters Robert Ekedahl and Charles Bourne gave $250 and $300, respectively.

Ms. Fergusson also received $300 from Menlo Park Tomorrow, a group of neighbors who supported unsuccessful candidates Toni Stein and David Speer in the 2002 council race.

As for Ms. Sinnott, her major contributions so far include $1,000 from Menlo Park consultant Sue Kayton, who along with Ms. Sinnott supported the home-building rules that the council rescinded in the face of the referendum petition.

Mayor Lee Duboc gave Ms. Sinnott $500, as did architect Henry Riggs and Southern California physician Tit Sang Li. Mr. Li is the father of Richard Li, whose two-home project on Cambridge Avenue had its use permit voted down by the Planning Commission and then approved by the council last year.

According to the statements, Ms. Fergusson has spent $590 on the campaign so far, and Ms. Sinnott has reported no expenditures.

The candidates are competing for two seats on the five-member council; incumbents Paul Collacchi and Chuck Kinney say they won't run again.

Contributors

These are the other donations of $100 or more listed on Ms. Fergusson's and Ms. Sinnott's campaign finance forms filed last week. Following are names, cities of residence and occupations:

** Kelly Fergusson: Dave Pine, Burlingame, attorney, $100; Judith Morley, Menlo Park, retired, $100; Owen Byrd, Palo Alto, self-employed, $100; Don Brawner, Menlo Park, business owner, $100; Calvin Jones, Menlo Park, retired, $100; Dianne Blake, Menlo Park, homemaker, $100; Whitney Hoyt, Sausalito, educator, $100; Mitch Slomiak, Menlo Park, consultant, $100; Molly Leow, Menlo Park, homemaker, $100.

** Lorie Sinnott: Monica Corman, Menlo Park, real estate agent, $250; Robert E. Swezey, Menlo Park, retired, $100; former mayor Ted I. Sorensen, Menlo Park, retired, $100.

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