Category Archives: Kari Birdseye

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.

Details: Benicia candidates file new campaign finance reports

By Roger Straw, October 26, 2018

New income sources and campaign expenses revealed on City of Benicia website

Details & highlights

Total cash raised Sept 23 – Oct 22
Birdseye $6,020 (Total $20,454)
Largaespada $1,948 (Total $20,984)
Strawbridge $5,812 + self loan of $4,000 (Total $23,797)

Total expenses Sept 23 – Oct 22
Birdseye $5,804 (Total $17,075)
Largaespada $6,733 (Total $14,348)
Strawbridge $10,333 (Total $24,354)

Cash on hand
Birdseye $3,378
Largaespada $5,569
Strawbridge $5,463

Interesting details
Benicia contributions: Birdseye 32 (avg. $140), Largaespada 5 (avg. $270), Strawbridge 15, (avg. $305)
Non-Benicia contributions: Birdseye 6 (avg $258), Largaespada 2 (avg. $300), Strawbridge 5 (avg. $246)
Contributions $500 or more: Birdseye 3 ($1,580), Largaespada 1 (500), Strawbridge 3 ($1,620)

Campaign Finance Reports, from the City’s website
(bold = new as of 10/25/2018):

Birdseye_Semi_Annual_Form_460.pdf

Birdseye_Pre_Election_1_Form_460.pdf

Birdseye_Form_460_Pre_Election_2.pdf

BPOA_2018_Semi_Annual_Form_460_1.pdf

BPOA_Semi_Annual_Form_460_2(1).pdf

BPOA_Form_460_Pre_Election_2.pdf

BPOA_Form_496_1.pdf

BPOA_Form_496_2.pdf

Campbell_2017_Annual_Form_470.pdf

Emes_Pre_Election_Form_470.pdf

Hughes_2018_Form_460_Semi_Annual_1.pdf

Hughes_Semi_Annual_Form_460_2.pdf

Largaespada_2018_Semi_Annual_Form_460_1.pdf

Largaespada_Semi_Annual_Form_460_2(1).pdf

Largaespada_Pre_Election_1_Form_460.pdf

Largaespada_Form_460_Pre_Election_2.pdf

Patterson_Legal_Defense_2018_Semi_Annual_Form_460_1.pdf

Patterson_Mayor_2018_Semi_Annual_Form_460_1.pdf

Patterson_Mayor_Semi_Annual_420__2.pdf

Patterson_Freedom_of_Speech_Legal_Defense_Termination_Form_460.pdf

Paulk_Annual_Form_470_2017.pdf

Schwartzman_2017_Annual_Form_470.pdf

Strawbridge_2018_Semi_Annual_Form_460_1.pdf

Strawbridge_Semi_Annual_Form_460_2(1).pdf

Strawbridge_Pre_Election_1Form_460.pdf

Strawbridge_Form_460_Pre_Election_2.pdf

Wolfe_2017_Annual_Form_470.pdf

Young__2017_Annual_Form_470.pdf

 

Benicia candidates file new campaign finance reports

By Roger Straw, October 26, 2018
[LATER – See details HERE.  – R.S.]

New finance sources revealed on City of Benicia website

No time for analysis this morning, but here is the entire listing of campaign finance reports from the City’s page.  I have placed the new reports in boldface.  Check back later for details.  – R.S.

Birdseye_Semi_Annual_Form_460.pdf

Birdseye_Pre_Election_1_Form_460.pdf

Birdseye_Form_460_Pre_Election_2.pdf

BPOA_2018_Semi_Annual_Form_460_1.pdf

BPOA_Semi_Annual_Form_460_2(1).pdf

BPOA_Form_460_Pre_Election_2.pdf

BPOA_Form_496_1.pdf

BPOA_Form_496_2.pdf

Campbell_2017_Annual_Form_470.pdf

Emes_Pre_Election_Form_470.pdf

Hughes_2018_Form_460_Semi_Annual_1.pdf

Hughes_Semi_Annual_Form_460_2.pdf

Largaespada_2018_Semi_Annual_Form_460_1.pdf

Largaespada_Semi_Annual_Form_460_2(1).pdf

Largaespada_Pre_Election_1_Form_460.pdf

Largaespada_Form_460_Pre_Election_2.pdf

Patterson_Legal_Defense_2018_Semi_Annual_Form_460_1.pdf

Patterson_Mayor_2018_Semi_Annual_Form_460_1.pdf

Patterson_Mayor_Semi_Annual_420__2.pdf

Patterson_Freedom_of_Speech_Legal_Defense_Termination_Form_460.pdf

Paulk_Annual_Form_470_2017.pdf

Schwartzman_2017_Annual_Form_470.pdf

Strawbridge_2018_Semi_Annual_Form_460_1.pdf

Strawbridge_Semi_Annual_Form_460_2(1).pdf

Strawbridge_Pre_Election_1Form_460.pdf

Strawbridge_Form_460_Pre_Election_2.pdf

Wolfe_2017_Annual_Form_470.pdf

Young__2017_Annual_Form_470.pdf

Anti-Birdseye spending increases again today…

By Roger Straw, October 25, 2018

Yet more anti-Birdseye expenditures

News gets old fast around here… Just yesterday, the City of Benicia posted on its website, three new Valero/labor PAC Expenditure Reports.

Today we learned that Valero/labor submitted three MORE expenditure reports in their bid to buy a seat on Council! The PAC is up to 17 expenditure reports now (and the original 5 income reports).

The three new reports today show additional expenses for robo calls (with script by former police Lieutenant Scott Przekurat) and new digital ads (LL & CS smiling-faces alongside an unfounded put-down of Kari Birdseye.

One expenditure report also shows new income of $800 from Alfred Conhagen Inc., a Benicia hydraulic repair service that I assume must do a huge business with Valero.

The reports show cumulative totals for LL $28,874, CS $20,586, and Anti-Birdseye $18,836. Lots of money left – they have amassed a total of $155,000 now, more than five times what an individual candidate is allowed to spend on a campaign.