Latest WeHo Campaign Donations Show Martin Lags Behind Incumbents
Steve Martin
The latest city council race campaign donation filing released by the West Hollywood City Clerk shows challenger Steve Martin significantly behind the incumbents he is challenging in the March 5, 2013 election.
From the beginning of the year through Jan. 19, Martin’s campaign has raised only $2,260 according to the report released Wednesday (Jan. 30). The report shows Martin has loaned his campaign an additional $6,200, bringing his total campaign funding to $8,460. By contrast, Mayor Jeff Prang has raised $17,525 and Councilmember John Duran has raised $58,315. Prang and Duran’s fundraising began last year. Martin’s report indicates he only began raising funds this month. Another challenger, Sam Borelli, has raised $20,358.36.
The reports released Wednesday included one for candidate Rusty Wiggs, who reported no contributions. Tom Demille, who has run unsuccessfully in many past elections, listed contributions of $185, mostly in the form of gift cards from Marco’s restaurant, Top Hat dry cleaners, Ralph’s supermarket and the Sun Bee liquor store.
Still to be released are contribution reports from challengers Tristan Schukraft and Christopher Landavazo, which likely will be disclosed this week.
The mostly recently reported donations, almost all from West Hollywood residents and businesses, made no dent in the impact real estate industry contributions have had on the race thus far. Real estate interests have donated about $32,000, accounting for the bulk of all donations from a particular group, with 85 percent of those contributions going to John Duran and 15 percent to Jeff Prang. To date, reports show total donations of $90,030, a fraction of the amount likely to be raised in the campaign. In the 2011 race for three council seats, total donations reached $450,000.
Under current city law, candidates may continue to receive donations up to six months after election day. The city council currently is considering a proposal to extend that period to nine months. Many major donors in past elections have hedged their bets, not donating to a candidate until he or she has been elected. An extension of the donation period would make it possible for candidates to cover loans they have made to their campaigns or campaign expenses not funded by pre-election donations.
Editor’s note: WEHOville erred in an earlier report of total campaign contributions reported from 2012 to date to West Hollywood City Council candidates Sam Borelli and Steve Martin for the March 5, 2013 election. Those donations are $20,358.36 for Borelli and $8,460 for Martin. WEHOville regrets the error.
Tagged election 2013, Jeffrey Prang, john duran, rusty wiggs, steve martin, tom demille, West Hollywood City Council election
RileyWed, Jan 30 at 5:46 pm
So, let’s see…if we follow the money, we might find that that 85% of $32,000.00 is around $27,200.00 (so far) to John Duran from Real Estate developers. John Duran is “connected” to Steve Afriat, a lobbiest, who is paid by developers to get their projects pushed passed West Hollywood City Council. Can we safely ascertain that there might be favors owed if Duran gets elected? How do YOU spell overdevelopment, boys and girls? D-U-R-A-N. No wonder he takes people out to lunch.
Robert NunezThu, Jan 31 at 10:40 am
West Hollywood doesn’t need term limits, we need campaign finance reform. Too many of our council members are bought by developers. Term limits would just make it easier for developers to hand pick new council members every election. We need to get all this money out of our elections and have a council that represents people and not mega-shopping centers.
Allegra AllisonThu, Jan 31 at 2:25 pm
Dear Jeff and/or John,
Last night, a building at my corner sprouted new Jeff & John signs.
I realize that your campaign workers are passionate but, my Steve Martin signs were torn down at the same time.
That’s not right or nice and it’s illegal. I’ve already replaced seven around my neighborhood.
This is not what’s gonna get you elected.
I hope you’ll be gentlemen and put a stop to this behavior.
matt panenoFri, Feb 01 at 3:58 pm
this idea that candidates are bought and paid for, and that term limits are the answer, is ridiculous.
what makes west hollywood any different than any other city that has elections, ego, greed, and users & dreamers?
the answer is; gay people who think that their little village is so special and precious that all of the issues and problems that are part of politics everywhere else are not going to exist in this magical place called boystown.
it’s a joke that somehow we are special and immune form human nature,temptation and bad behavior.
if you want to change the picture at city hall, run for office, stand by a candidate and walk door to door. tell me why your guy or gal is the right person for the gig.
the constant whining about over development is tired, and on balance compared to the rest of the los angeles area in the last 20 years, a falacy.
running down someone because they are an institution, or a city hall fixture is an exercize in futility, and should instead be met with an expressed vision and optimism of what could be.
STOP COMPLAINING for goodness sake.
p.s. i’m repulsed by abbe and john, actually, all of the johns. d’amico is a snooze and the other two are entrenched and stale.
MeSun, Feb 03 at 10:40 am
Hey Matt Paneno,
STOP COMPLAINING for goodness sake!!!!!….seems you are complaining quite a bit yourself….people aren’t allowed to have their own opinions any longer in your world???…you’ve done an almost perfect job of putting everything and everyone down, so i’m curious as to what you actually believe in….
sheilalightfootSun, Feb 03 at 10:56 pm
Steve Martin may have the least amount of money, but of all the candidates he’s the only one running a real campaign. While Duran and Prang chase developer dollars, Steve is walking neighborhoods and his supporters are putting up signs all over town. And while I’ve heard that the incumbents are paying people to make phone calls and walk the neighborhoods for them, Steve has a base of enthusiastic resident volunteers holding meet and greets for him everywhere. Money can buy you a lot of things, but it can’t buy you love.
RileyMon, Feb 04 at 12:20 pm
@Matt – we need term limits AND elections and we need full disclosure of where the money comes from. Yes, we have the right to vote people out, but we in Weho have actually lived through the short-time resident, Lindsay Horvath, being APPOINTED to by City Council Members to the City Council. Where were our rights then? Where was our choice then? This year we have a powerful lobbyist in one Steve Afriat, whose many clients include real estate developers and whom we have all seen lobby on behalf of those clients in front of the very people he is now trying to get elected. How is this NOT a serious conflict of interest? We need to have people who are not bought and sold by land barons and real estate developers to represent us. If an elected official cannot make his or her mark in 12 years, then there is something wrong with them in the first place. Vote YES on C. At least it is a step toward change.
Rudolf MartinTue, Feb 05 at 1:11 pm
i erroneously posted on another comment thread that 44 out of 45 monetary contributions for John Duran come from outside of WeHo (not exactly grass roots).
It’s actually 45 out of 45…
the person listed in Weho…the address is actually in L.A.
and…. she shares that suite (or P.O. Box) with another contributor, Western Built Construction. sorry for the mistake.
SnarkygalMon, Feb 11 at 11:09 am
You know what I’ve noticed? It is the same few people commenting on the same topics in all publications. I say let’s give it a rest and let others weigh in. Rudolph, Riley, Sheila, me, Lauren, and myself included.
Rudolf MartinMon, Feb 11 at 11:15 am
@Snarkygal: believe me, i’m trying…
RileyMon, Feb 11 at 11:27 am
@SnarkyGal – It is not as if others cannot weigh in if we do. I wish to high heaven that “others would weigh in.” It seems not many are reading and/or care enough to comment or get involved. I read an article on the Patch once from Malibu and there were over 100 comments mostly from different people. Wouldn’t that be great?