Yard signs are popping up throughout Menlo Park, and candidate forums abound. It’s clear that election season is in full swing — and the latest campaign finance reports from City Council candidates bear this out.
In the first six months of 2018, only Councilwoman Kirsten Keith filed documents to disclose significant campaign fundraising. For the current filing period, all but one of the eight council candidates filed paperwork indicating they had raised more than $2,000 between July 1 and Sept. 22. Once a candidate raises $2,000, he or she is required to publicly file what is known as a Form 460 with the state that lists how much each donor has contributed.
According to council candidate documents showing campaign fundraising and spending during the current filing period — calculated in advance of the Sept. 27 filing deadline — the top fundraisers in each district during that period were Cecilia Taylor in District 1, with $3,296; Drew Combs in District 2, with $7,530 (not including personal loans); and Betsy Nash in District 4, with $3,600.
Keith still tops the list for most funds raised overall, reporting a total of $24,560 this year. Below is a list of each district’s candidates and who their major donors were between July 1 and Sept. 22.
District 1
Cecilia Taylor
Taylor reported that she received $3,296 in campaign contributions during this period, with $3,114 in monetary contributions and $182 in nonmonetary contributions, and spent $1,811.
Donations listed over $100 are: $500 from Carolyn Bowser, $400 from Howard “Sandy” Crittenden (former owner of the Guild Theatre), $250 from herself, $250 from former mayor Kelly Fergusson, $250 from Karen Moore, $200 from former mayor Steve Schmidt, $200 from Lenore Hennen, $200 from Susan Earhart, $200 from Julie Schatz and $150 from Nina Wouk.
Nonmonetary contributions included personal spending of $83 and a contribution of $99 from Hennen for labels, and food and supplies for a campaign party.
George Yang
Yang reported that he received $2,010 in campaign contributions during the reporting period and spent $1,801. He has raised $3,080 since the start of the year, including $1,000 in personal loans.
Donations listed over $100 are: $1,000 from Evelyn Evens Yee Wan Li, $500 from Theresa Couture and $250 from Jesus Borrillo.
Mike Dunn
Dunn told The Almanac he does not intend to collect contributions for his campaign, let alone in excess of $2,000.
District 2
Drew Combs
Combs reported that he received $11,530 in contributions to his campaign during this reporting period and spent $3,673.
Combs said that he received $6,890 in monetary contributions, $4,000 in personal loans and $640 in nonmonetary contributions.
Donations listed over $100 are: $1,000 from Peter Carpenter, $500 from George Fisher, $250 from former mayor Kelly Fergusson, $250 from Facebook Operations Manager Joseph Molimock, $250 from fellow Planning Commissioner Henry Riggs, $250 from fellow Planning Commissioner Katherine Strehl, $250 from Kristi Berg, $200 from former mayor Steve Schmidt, $200 from former planning commissioner Stu Soffer, $200 from Alba Holgado, $200 from Martin Pearce, $200 from Jennifer Pien, $200 from Patrick Gardner, $150 from former mayor Mickie Winkler, $150 from Shaun Maguire, $150 from Mahra Teikmanis, $150 from Mary Beth Richardson, $150 from Eric Seidel and $150 from Rosser Wilson.
In addition, Kristi Berg provided $490 in food, beverages and supplies for a kickoff party, and both Strehl and former planning commissioner Larry Kahle provided $50 in refreshments for meet-and-greet events.
Kirsten Keith
Keith reported that she received $5,293 in contributions and spent $2,228 during the current period, and that she has received a total of $24,560 in contributions since the start of the year. Of the contributions raised since July 1, she reports receiving all but $74 in monetary contributions.
Donations listed over $100 are as follows: $950 from Core Affordable Housing, $950 from Anton Development Company, $500 from Greenheart Land Company, $500 from Tod Spieker Jr., $500 from Northern California Carpenters Regional Council Small Contributor Committee, $500 from Geoff Carr, $250 from Ben Paul and $150 from Marc Berman for Assembly 2018.
Nonmonetary contributions included $30 in food and snack supplies for a meet-and-greet event from Planning Commissioner Andrew Barnes.
District 4
Betsy Nash
Nash reported that she received $3,600 in contributions during the current reporting period, all monetary campaign contributions, and spent $2,159.
Donations listed over $100 are as follows: $500 from Betsy Nash for Council 2018, $250 from Peter Cohn, $250 from Sally Cole, $250 from James Dickerson, $250 from former mayor Kelly Fergusson, $250 from George Fisher, $250 from Debra Littleton-Gerow, $200 from Julie and Thomas Gaston, $200 from Marie Jackson, $200 from former mayor Steve Schmidt and $150 from Amy Klein.
Peter Ohtaki
Ohtaki reported that he received $2,105 in contributions during the current reporting period, all in monetary donations, and spent $641.
Donations listed over $100 are: $950 from developer John Tarlton, $250 from himself, $250 from Planning Commissioner Henry Riggs, $250 from Patrick and Monica Corman, and $250 from former Environmental Quality commissioner Allan Bedwell.
Ron Shepherd
Shepherd reported that he has received $6,000 in campaign contributions since the start of the year, with $1,000 in monetary donations and $5,000 in personal loans, and has spent $4,250.
Donations listed over $100 are: $250 from Sandy McNamara and $200 from Gloria Walker.
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