Times-Herald: Benicia candidates’ campaign finance reports

Repost from the Vallejo Times-Herald
[Editor: For links to the individual reports, see Details: Benicia candidates file new campaign finance-reports.  – R.S.]

Benicia council candidates raise $13,780 since Sept. 23

By JOHN GLIDDEN, October 26, 2018 at 3:19 pm

BENICIA — Three of the four Benicia City Council candidates have raised a combined $13,780 in campaign cash since Sept. 23, financial records submitted to the Benicia City Clerk’s Office show.

The records turned in Thursday are the last campaign statements required to be submitted prior to the Nov. 6 election.

Political newcomer Kari Birdseye’s campaign led the group with $6,020 in cash contributions received between Sept. 23 to Oct. 20.

Notable donations include, $250 from the Solano County Orderly Growth Committee, $200 from Benicia Vice Mayor Steve Young, while Benicia Mayor Elizabeth Patterson donated $35 during the current period – increasing her donation total to the Birdseye campaign, which is now $145 for the calendar year, records show.

Additional notable contributions include $500 from Nancy Serrurier, $500 from Greg Serrurier, $580 from Paula Schnese, and $300 from Kathleen Dylina, Birdseye campaign reported.

The campaign spent $5,804 during the same period with $1,000 going towards media buys, $575 to Polygon Publishing for printed material, and $400 to Marc Garman’s Lab Rat Pictures for production of an advertisement.

Birdseye’s campaign also gave cash refunds of $500 each to Brian Mitchell, Jill Wilson, Tom Wilson, records show.

The campaign had $3,378 left in its coffers as of Oct. 20.

Former Councilwoman Christina Strawbridge’s campaign picked up $5,812 during the same month.

Notable donations included: $250 from the Solano County Orderly Growth Committee, former Vallejo Mayor Terry Curtola gave $100, $201 from Benicia Councilman Alan Schwartzman, $580 from the California Real Estate PAC, and $200 from Solano County Supervisor Erin Hannigan.

Major donations to the campaign also came from Jack Bethards, who donated $500, Richard Bortolazzo gave $300, Shari Bortolazzo donated $300, $540 came from Jim Ponder, $250 was donated from Donald Zampa, and $400 from Erin Gizzi, records show.

Strawbridge gave her campaign a $4,000 loan, it was reported. The campaign spent $10,333 with $3,579 going to Assistance Plus for direct mail, $1,175 to Polygon Publishing for advertising, and $3,000 for a media buy, the campaign reported.

The campaign stated it had $5,463 in the bank on Oct. 20.

Finally, Lionel Largaespada, chair of the city’s Economic Development Board, raised $1,948 in cash from Sept. 23, his campaign reported.

Heather Graves donated $250, while Jack Bethard gave $500, and $250 from Donald Zampa, Largaespada’s campaign stated.

The campaign spent $6,733 during that period with a bulk, $4,367,paid to Strong & Associates for a mail piece, records show.

Largaespada had $5,569 left in its coffers on Oct. 20.

Birdseye, Largaespada, Strawbridge, and Will Emes are all running for two open seats on the five-person Benicia City Council this fall. The two incumbents, Alan Schwartzman and Mark Hughes, have both declined to seek re-election to the council.

The election is Nov. 6.