Financing remains political in nonpartisan races

Alicia Robinson

Elected offices such as seats on city councils and school boards are

technically nonpartisan.

But a look at the 2004 campaign finance activity of Newport-Mesa’s

city council candidates shows that a noticeable number of campaign

donors fall neatly along political party lines.

The cost of the priciest city council campaign last year in

Newport Beach and Costa Mesa came out roughly the same, around

$53,000, with just $772 separating the top spender in Newport from

the one in Costa Mesa. In Costa Mesa, the field of candidates was

much wider, and the three seats up for election were at-large seats,

while in Newport, council members represent districts of the city.

Some of the organizations that pumped money into local elections

aren’t overtly political, but they tend to support candidates with

one kind of party affiliation. Business groups, for example, often

support Republican candidates, while environmental groups are more

likely to give to Democrats.

The Building Industry Assn. of Southern California gave $250 each

to Costa Mesa candidates Eric Bever and Mike Scheafer, who are both

Republicans, and Bever’s largest donation was a total of $10,000 from

the Apartment Assn. of Orange County.

“They’re basically looking out for the industry, and they have

also undertaken some blight amelioration projects,” Bever said of the

apartment association. “I believe they like my property rights

viewpoints, and we agree on a lot of things.”

On the flip side, Costa Mesa council candidates Linda Dixon and

Katrina Foley -- both registered Democrats -- each received a

contribution from Wylie Aitken, who chairs the Democratic Foundation

of Orange County. Dixon listed $500 and Foley reported $850 coming

from Aitken.

Foley also got money from the local Sierra Club chapter -- $150 --

and the Orange County League of Conservation Voters -- $200.

But Foley thinks her campaign went beyond party politics.

“I actually had a lot of bipartisan support,” Foley said. “A lot

of my support came from individuals.”

Newport Beach Mayor Steve Bromberg gave Foley one of her

cross-the-aisle endorsements.

A few of the campaign donors were openly political organizations.

Four candidates -- Steve Rosansky in Newport Beach and Bever,

Scheafer and Bruce Garlich in Costa Mesa -- netted $500 donations

from the Lincoln Club, a Republican group that put about $20,000 into

local council races in 2004.

The club invites Republican candidates to make their pitch for

donations and, even more important, endorsements, said Orange County

Lincoln Club Chairman Michael Capaldi.

“We’re looking for people who believe in smaller government, lower

taxes, less intrusion into the affairs of the public,” he said.

The group pumped $100,000 into the City Council race in Irvine,

where the council is headed by controversial mayor Larry Agran, a

Democrat.

“We’re very concerned about the direction of Irvine,” Capaldi

said.

Generally, though, the parties throw money where their members

will win, he added.

“There’s no such thing as a nonpartisan office in the state of

California, and where Democrats are strong, their party supports

their candidates, and where Republicans are strong, we do the same

thing,” Capaldi said.

Not everyone thinks that way. Shaheen Sadeghi, developer of two

innovative Costa Mesa shopping centers, gave money to Bever, Dixon,

Foley and Garlich because he saw different strengths in each of them.

“I honestly look at the people that are just passionate and had

some sense of direction as opposed to just running for the sake of

running,” Sadeghi said. “I was looking at the team.”

Costa Mesa’s current council will be a case study in how a diverse

group of candidates with some partisan backers will be able to work

together.

The council will face a big test next week, when they appoint new

slates of members to the planning and parks and recreation

commissions. In December the group split 3-2 on a vote to change the

way commissioners are selected.

“Whether or not we can cross party lines is going to be decided

Monday night,” Foley said.

* ALICIA ROBINSON covers government and politics. She may be

reached at (714) 966-4626 or by e-mail at alicia.robinson@

latimes.com.