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Candidates for the District 1 seat on the Menlo Park City Council are largely self-funding their campaigns, in contrast with candidates in other districts who are raising tens of thousands of dollars.
Both candidates on the Nov. 3 ballot in District 1, which includes Menlo Park’s Belle Haven and Bayshore neighborhoods, said they have chosen not to ask residents for campaign donations due to economic pressures.
Retired cybersecurity professional James Rohr’s campaign reported spending more than $2,000 as of Sept. 19. Software engineer Wonman Lee reported raising $3,500 and spending $5,300 as of that date, according to campaign filings.
Rohr said his campaign is entirely self-funded.
“(I) know the people of our district have more pressing needs than giving money to a campaign,” Rohr said in an email.
Lee told The Almanac that friends and family have funded most of his campaign.
“I chose not to ask District 1 families for money directly, given how hard this economy has been on so many of them,” Lee said in an email. “Instead, I’ve asked for their time, so I can share my message and earn their vote.”
In California, campaigns that receive or spend less than $2,000 are not required to disclose their funding sources or exact totals. Because Rohr crossed that threshold at the end of the most recent filing period, he will not be required to provide a detailed contributor list until at least Oct. 22.
Lee’s campaign reported more than $3,000 in unpaid bills, primarily on a business credit card. Lee said most of his spending has gone toward printed materials and mailers and he has not hired political consultants.
“I support public financing for local races, so that running for City Council depends more on your message than on the size of your wallet,” Lee said.
Proposition 4, a statewide measure on the November ballot, would repeal California’s prohibition on public financing of elections.
In District 4, Charlotte Reed reportedly raised $17,000 and Laura Melahn collected $5,600 as they vie to replace Councilmember Betsy Nash, who is not seeking reelection to represent downtown Menlo Park and Allied Arts. Vamsi Velagapudi raised $9,900 compared to incumbent Drew Combs, who raised $8,800 in the race for District 2 — which represents the Willows, Flood Triangle, Lorelei Manor and Suburban Park.
The next deadline for filing reports covering contributions and expenditures from Sept. 20 through Oct. 17 is on Oct. 22.
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