Category Archives: Kari Birdseye

ANTI-BIRDSEYE PAC SPENDS ANOTHER $58,000, TOTAL NOW OVER $135,000

By Roger Straw, October 30, 2018
[For PAC income report, see ANTI-BIRDSEYE PAC SPENDS ANOTHER $58,000, TOTAL NOW OVER $135,000.]

The latest campaign finance reports posted by the City of Benicia show that the Anti-Birdseye (Texas-Valero/Labor “Working Families”) PAC has spent additional funds totaling $57,997 on the following:

  • $3,283 on 11/1 for “Live Calls” scripted against Birdseye and in support of Birdseye’s opponents, and paid to Winning Connections of Washington, D.C.
  • $523 on 11/03 for Door Hangers opposing Birdseye and in support of her opponents.
  • $38,192 on  11/03 for “Canvassing” (media buys) paid to Digital Turf of Kennebunk, ME.  (Previous buys paid to Digital Turf were designated “media buys”. That is likely what this report is for.)
  • $8,000 on 10/27 and another $8,000 on 10/30 for Mailers paid to Digital Turf of Kennebunk, ME.

The reports show cumulative PAC totals spent:

  • For Strawbridge, new spending of $28, 178, TOTAL of $52,652
  • For Largaespada, new spending of $29,819, TOTAL of $61,582
  • Strictly against Birdseye, $21,432.31
  • TOTAL PAC SPENDING TO DATE: $135,666

Compare these totals to those spent by the individual campaigns:

  • Strawbridge campaign, $24,354
  • Largaespada campaign, $14,348
  • Birdseye campaign, $17,076
  • TOTAL OF ALL THREE CAMPAIGNS, $55,778

And the PAC still has over $59,000 to spend in the last few days before the election!  (LATE BREAKING – Reports indicate that the PAC most likely spent considerable additional funds on an attorney, whose letter was sent today challenging Benicia Open Government Commission’s Final Word forum.  One estimate is that such a letter could cost around $20,000!  More on that later…)

I’VE SAID IT BEFORE, BUT IT BEARS REPEATING: Corporations can throw their money around for and against candidates, but they don’t get to VOTE.  Living, breathing humans cast ballots and make all the difference.  Please vote for Kari Birdseye!

Click here to go to Kari’s campaign website, BirdseyeForBenicia.com

Anti-Birdseye PAC receives a Halloween gift of another $15,000, total now $195,000 to buy a seat

By Roger Straw, November 2, 2018
[For PAC spending report, see ANTI-BIRDSEYE PAC SPENDS ANOTHER $58,000, TOTAL NOW OVER $135,000.]

Valero/Labor PAC for Largaespada and Strawbridge, against Kari Birdseye gets a second contribution from the Boilermakers

The Anti-Birdseye political action committee (PAC) filed a new contribution report yesterday.  This report shows another receipt of $15,000 on October 31.  This is the second contribution from the International Brotherhood of  Boilermakers (etc.).  The “Brotherhood” helped kickstart the fund with a $30,000 contribution on October 10.

This raises the total Valero-inspired anti-Birdseye fund to $195,000.  The four candidates are limited by City ordinance to less than $30,000 each.  So the PAC now has over six times the financial power than any citizen who organizes friends and neighbors to support a campaign.

For previous reports of contributions and expenditures of the candidates as well as the Anti-Birdseye PAC and others, check out the City of Benicia Campaign Finance Reports page.

Kari Birdseye – great interview on KPFA by Andres Soto

Repost from BirdseyeForBenicia.com

KARI BIRDSEYE INTERVIEW – ANDRES SOTO ON KPFA 94.1

NOVEMBER 2, 2018

On Thursday before the election, I spoke with KPFA’s Andres Soto, and we covered important issues for Benicia voters.  – Kari

Listen here: KPFA Andres Soto interview Kari Birdseye 11-01-18
Click here to go to Kari’s campaign website, BirdseyeForBenicia.com

Benicia candidates’ final campaign finance reports

By Roger Straw, October 31, 2018

Final reports on income sources and campaign expenses as posted on City of Benicia website

Highlights
Details
Cash raised Oct 21-28
Birdseye $705 (Total $21,159)
Largaespada $830 (Total $21,814)
Strawbridge $0 (Total $23,797)

Expenses Oct 21-28
Birdseye $761 (Total $17,836)
Largaespada $425 (Total $14,783)
Strawbridge $0 (Total $24,354)

Cash on hand
Birdseye $3,323
Largaespada $5,964
Strawbridge $5,463

Birdseye income: $350 from Progressive Democrats of Benicia and 5 smaller contributions.  Birdseye expenses: TV and Facebook ads.

Largaespada income: $580 from the mega-PAC California Real Estate Political Action Committee (CREPAC).  CREPAC has received and spent over $4 million on a wide variety of elections this year, including $925K to the CA Republican Party and $800K to the CA Democratic Party.   Largaespada expenses: Benicia Herald and Facebook ads.

Strawbridge: Odd that she had no financial activity!  Pure speculation: maybe her plan is to spend a bunch AFTER the final filing deadline?  Reports on spending from Oct. 29 – Nov. 6 aren’t due until Nov. 9.

Links to the final reports: