City Council races: Zur Schmiede holds slight fundraising lead over Madison

With less than three weeks to go until the election, Robert Zur Schmiede leads all Laguna Beach City Council candidates in total monetary contributions, according to records filed with the city clerk’s office.

Zur Schmiede, a planning commissioner, tallied $54,442 in campaign contributions from Jan. 1 through Sept. 30.

Heritage Committee Chairman Jon Madison, who has come under fire after allegations surfaced that he might have lied on his campaign website about his educational background, is a close second with $53,455.

Toni Iseman, one of two incumbents seeking reelection, is third with $37,083. Iseman, who announced her candidacy in late July, received all of her money in the filing quarter ending Sept. 30. The amount was the most taken in by any of the seven candidates in that three-month span.

Councilman Kelly Boyd has received $34,029 in total contributions. Michele Hall, a yoga instructor and former president of the Laguna Beach Republicans, has received $7,162.

Paul Merritt, a trust administrator, received all of his $3,163 in this latest reporting period. Eli Grossman has not reported any monetary donations, City Clerk Lisette Chel-Walker said.

The maximum amount that a donor can give to a candidate is $360, Walker said.

Madison led all candidates in monetary donations with $46,905 in the first reporting period (Jan. 1 through June 30), according to the city clerk’s office. Zur Schmiede was second with $34,820.

The election is Nov. 4.