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As befits a small city election, Menlo Park council candidate campaigns are weighed in thousands of dollars, rather than hundreds of thousands. This holds true for the latest batch of campaign finance reports, which reflect donations and expenditures from Oct. 1 through Oct. 18 (or Oct. 20, if you are incumbent Kirsten Keith).
Ms. Keith, who is running for a second term, remains the top fundraiser of the six candidates, bringing in $4,028 from Oct. 1 through Oct. 20. Her campaign has seen $20,274 in total contributions so far this year, including $2,303 in nonmonetary donations.
Her major contributors this period included the California Association of Realtors political action committee ($1,000); Atherton resident Elizabeth Dunlevie ($500); and Atherton resident and Menlo Park Fire Protection District board member Peter Carpenter ($400).
She reported no nonmonetary donations for this period.
Ms. Keith reported spending $3,329 on campaign literature-related expenses, Facebook ads and voter data, and had $2,758 in unpaid invoices. Her expenses total $9,423 for the year to date.
Incumbent Rich Cline, seeking a third term on the council, raised $2,740 this reporting period, and $6,240 total this year through Oct. 18, including a $1,000 loan from himself.
His major donors for October included the Silicon Valley Association of Realtors and San Leandro-based accountant Luigi Pietrantoni ($1,000 each); the David Bohannon Organization ($990); executive Rich Dunn and Atherton resident Elizabeth Dunlevie ($500 each). He reported no nonmonetary donations this period.
Mr. Cline spent $4,363 on campaign literature during this reporting period; his total expenses this year so far added up to $8,239.
Former councilwoman Kelly Fergusson reported $2,370 in donations, adding up to $11,172 raised this year, with $136 in nonmonetary donations from the “Yes on M” coalition Save Menlo.
Her major contributors for this reporting period included former councilman Heyward Robinson ($500); Montessori preschool Casa del Bambini in Palo Alto ($300); and the San Mateo County Building Trades Council ($250).
Ms. Fergusson spent $1,400 on campaign literature, Facebook ads and beverages for this reporting period, bringing her expenditures this year to $5,788.
Incumbent Peter Ohtaki, seeking a second term, raised $1,690 this period. That brings his overall contributions so far this year to $10,325.
Major donors included the Silicon Valley Association of Realtors ($1,000) and the David Bohannon Organization ($990).
He reported $250 in nonmonetary donations for Oct. 1 through Oct. 18 for flier distribution via Greenheart Land Co.’s “No on M” Committee for a Vibrant Downtown.
Newspaper ads and campaign literature accounted for the $5,270 spent this period, bringing Mr. Ohtaki’s expenses to $9,619 overall this year.
Environmental Quality Commissioner Kristin Duriseti listed $925 donated from Oct. 1 through Oct. 18, bringing her campaign fund total to $9,843, including a $4,000 loan to herself.
Ms. Duriseti spent $3,722 on campaign literature from Oct. 1 through Oct. 18. That brought her overall expenditures to $8,697 so far this year.
Planning Commissioner Drew Combs raised $900 this period, for a total of $8,550 in contributions this year through Oct. 18. He reported no non-monetary donations in his most recent filing.
Mr. Combs spent $4,245 in the first half of October, adding up to $7,169 in expenses this year, including $618 in unpaid invoices. The money went toward signs and campaign literature, with $600 invoiced from Studio City-based Saadi Howell for graphic design.