Scrivner pads war chest as unions back rival
| Saturday, Oct 07 2006 01:19 AM
Last Updated Saturday, Mar 28 2009 09:26 AM
Campaign finance reports filed late this week show who has raised what money in the Bakersfield City Council races.
And they show who won't be able to buy something for the backyard this year.
"There goes the pool," joked Sarah Louie, campaign treasurer for and wife of Ward 3 candidate Chad Louie, after she turned in his report to the city clerk's office.
The documents cover campaign activity between July 1 and Sept. 30 of this year and give year-to-date figures, too. The election is Nov. 7
Ward 7
Zack Scrivner, running for re-election to his Ward 7 seat, dwarfed other candidates' coffers.
Scrivner raised $109,340 cash in the reporting period and had about $116,000 in the bank at the end of it.
Challenger Sheryl Mitchell, a political newcomer, raised $20,010 in cash, loans and nonmonetary contributions and had $10,000 left.
She has spent more than $10,000 in the race so far -- counting both cash and non-cash help.
Her contributions include $7,500 total from two city unions, the firefighters and Central California Association of Public Employees.
"Sheryl has a good business background," said Chuck Waide, CCAPE rep. "She won't use city employees as a whipping post to make a name for herself," alluding to Scrivner.
CCAPE and the firefighters union have criticized Scrivner for targeting pensions and benefits. Scrivner claims that exorbitant benefits and pension plans for new hires could bankrupt the city.
"Union bosses like Chuck Waide don't want to talk about (the issue)," Scrivner said. "They just want more, more, more."
Added Scrivner: "I love our city employees. They do a great job."
Scrivner has spent nearly $50,000 so far this year on his campaign, $27,000 of which has gone to the firm of his consultant, Mark Abernathy.
He's received much financial support from the building and development industries.
General Holding, the company whose development plans have created controversy and a proposed revision of the city's hillside building ordinance, has donated $150 to Scrivner under its political action committee "Citizens for Community Planning."
Gordon Downs, owner of property in the northeast hills who would likely lose money if the hillside ordinance passes, donated $2,500 to Scrivner.
David Cates, immediate past president of the county's Building Industry Association, has given $5,000 to Scrivner.
Hall Ambulance Services, owned by Mayor Harvey Hall, gave Scrivner $1,000.
Ward 7 generally covers the southern end of the city.
Ward 3
Ken Weir, who also has Abernathy as a consultant -- is the candidate to beat when it comes to money in the northeast ward.
Only spending about $900 so far, Weir had a cash balance of nearly $59,000 at the end of September.
"I'm very pleased with the support we're received so far," Weir said Friday. "It's been constant and ongoing."
Weir is using at least $5,000 of his own money, not counting consultant fees paid to Abernathy's consulting firm.
Accountant Weir also has received a lot of money from the building industry.
Cates has given Weir $3,300.
Hall Ambulance has given him $1,000.
His next closest competitor moneywise was Deputy District Attorney Louie, who has spent more than $2,000 so far and had $26,133 left in the bank. Of that, $22,000 is his own money, $2,500 is from the firefighters union and $2,500 from CCAPE.
"We looked at all three candidates," Waide said. "We were impressed with (Louie's) legal background, and he did his homework."
CCAPE's distaste for Scrivner might have worked against Weir, who shares Scrivner's campaign manager.
"It was like talking with Zack," Waide said of talking with Weir.
David Tapia, using $2,000 of his own money, had nearly $900 in the bank left.
Tapia is an academic coach employed by the Bakersfield City School District.
Ward 1
Irma Carson, a retired police sergeant running for re-election to her southeast Ward 1 seat, raised close to $40,000 and had left about $31,446.
She's spent almost $10,000 so far.
She had nearly $40,000 when she started the campaign.
Her challenger, retired technician Ernest Morse, has loaned himself $2,000 to help and has nearly $800 left in the bank.
"It's not a money issue," Morse said. "(But) it will if there are commercials on radio and TV."
Morse added, "If it's about money, then we're in trouble. The money translates into power."
