Easy to tell Greenlighters from opponents
The Daily Pilot’s negligent sub-heading “Greenlight candidates
Gary Adams and Mayor Tod Ridgeway report more than $30,000 each,” by
omitting the word “anti” preceding the word “Greenlight,”
significantly confuses and obliterates the small-budget,
volunteer-sponsored Greenlight endorsement campaign strategy. This
strategy is primarily designed to show voters the difference between
our four endorsed candidates and four special interest-supported
candidates.
The approximate statistics from these candidates’ filings tell a
compelling story (which you did not develop) concerning power
politics in Newport Beach.
The four special interest-supported anti-Greenlight candidates
have raised $126,000 year to date. In analyzing the percentage of
number of contributors, we have a clear picture: Adams has 36% real
estate related, 30% from out of town. Ridgeway has 62% real estate
related, 33% from out of town. Bernie Svalstead had an advanced
campaign of $30,000 and has raised $6,000, with 45% from out of town.
Don Webb has 35% of donations from real estate and development
interests. Each of the foregoing are represented by consultant Dave
Ellis, who has received over $400,000 from the city in connection
with airport issues.
By way of stark contrast, Greenlight has reported $10,400 year to
date, to be distributed pro-rata to its independent candidates, with
3% from real estate related interests and 3% from outside the area. I
do not have current information on Greenlight-endorsed candidates
Allan Beek, Madelene Arakelian, Dick Nichols and Richard Taylor, but
I believe the amounts reported by them will total less than $10,000
and that the origins of their campaign financing will be
unremarkable. The question remains, who will best serve our
residents?
We all know that this is a highly contentious election involving
good people willing to make personal sacrifices to serve our city.
The Pilot, while trying to be fair, has shot Greenlight in the foot.
Please do something to level the playing field, and thank you for
doing the right thing.
GEORGE JEFFRIES
Corona del Mar
* EDITOR’S NOTE: George Jeffries is a Greenlight activist.
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