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.