Newport Beach City Council candidates report fundraising totals for end of 2021

Five candidates have so far announced they’re in the running for the four seats opening up on the Newport Beach City Council this year.

Those seats are for District 1, which represents the Balboa Peninsula and West Newport Beach; District 3, which represents the neighborhoods surrounding upper Newport Bay; District 4, which represents Eastbluff and Bonita Canyon; and District 6, which represents residents living in Corona del Mar.

Mayor Kevin Muldoon, along with Council members Diane Dixon and Duffy Duffield will be terming out while Councilwoman Joy Brenner is seeking reelection in her district. She is currently unopposed.

In District 1, candidates Joe Stapleton and Tom Miller will be vying to succeed Dixon. Stapleton announced his run in October. He previously made a bid for the City Council in 2014, but withdrew.

Miller did not make a formal announcement, but the Facebook page set up for his campaign dates the beginning of his run to November.

Candidate Robyn Grant announced her run for District 4 in November along with Brenner, by way of social media, and Erik Weigand announced his bid for District 3 in December.

In a recent statement, Grant confirmed that her campaign raised more than $60,000 from over 100 contributors by the end of 2021. This compares against Stapleton, who raised $156,125 for his campaign, and Brenner, whose team confirmed they raised $25,019.

Weigand said in a recent interview that he did not focus on fundraising immediately following his campaign announcement as he felt it was inappropriate to seek donations during the holidays.

He, instead, focused on getting endorsements.

“It’s a time when people need to focus on themselves, their family and friends. Politics should take a backseat,” said Weigand, who added he does plan to do more robust fundraising throughout the first quarter of 2022 up to June.

Miller did not return requests for comment.

The election is Nov. 8; the filing period ends Aug. 12.

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