Special-interest group contributions bolster council campaigns

Special-interest groups have raised more than $50,000 in campaign contributions to support council candidates, with a major chunk coming from mobile-home park owners.

The Huntington Beach Property Owners for Property Rights — a political action group of home, business, and apartment owners — has raised about $30,000 for the upcoming November elections. The city is fighting a lawsuit from the park owners over its code governing mobile-home conversion.

The property rights group supports council members Cathy Green and Gil Coerper as well as council hopeful Joe Carchio, and has sent out mailers costing about $7,000 each.

Despite the mailers, Carchio would not say if he would support the owners of the mobile homes or the park owners if elected. Instead, he said the city should have avoided the lawsuit altogether by sitting down with park owners and “hammering out an agreement right in the beginning.”

“Once you get lawyers involved, the only winners are the lawyers,” he said.

Freedom From Taxes, another political action committee, also sent out mailers supporting Carchio at a cost of about $12,000.

Special-interest groups and unions supporting candidates is “just part of the system,” said Councilwoman Jill Hardy, who is seeking reelection.

“As far as I know, none of the candidates know that these independent expenditures have been made until the mailer shows up in your mailbox,” she said.

The group did not check with or advise Coerper before they sent out the mailer, he said.

“I did not solicit donations,” Coerper said.

Tom Livengood, co-campaign manager for Cathy Green, agreed.

“It’s politics,” he said. “You have no control over it. You could be embarrassed by the group that endorses you.”

But independent groups supporting a candidate doesn’t carry as much influence on the council level as the county, state and national level, he said.

“My $36,000 in campaign contributions including $27,000 of my own money is just a drop in the bucket as compared to what the special interest groups are spending,” local businessman Joe Shaw said. Shaw has spent the most on his campaign among the seven council candidates.

The Huntington Beach Police Officers’ Assn. backed Coerper with more than $13,000 in printing and mailing of brochures. Coerper contributed about $11,000 to his own campaign.

The Firefighters Assn. chipped in with their support for Cathy Green and Jill Hardy besides Coerper, spending about $4,000 each in mailers.

However, candidates across the board have complained about “money being tight this time around” — all except Flossie Horgan.

The Bolsa Chica Land Trust co-founder and Planning Commissioner has raised about $46,000 in her first election campaign.

Horgan is the highest individual grosser without self-contributions bulking up her campaign finances. Without the backing of special interest groups, Horgan’s clout with the 8,000 or so members of the Land Trust has gone a long way.

“It’s just the people’s campaign,” Horgan said. “It’s those little vignettes that keep me going I tell ya.”

INFO BOX:

Campaign finance statements for City Council candidates and independent/special interest organizations filed by Oct. 26

Contributions, Expenses

Joe Carchio — $30,621, $26,693

Gil Coerper — $54,008 ($11,000 in self loans), $31,950

Cathy Green — $41,213, $39,009

Jill Hardy — $15,121, $12,690

Flossie Horgan — $46,109, $44,000

Joe Shaw — $36,381 ($27,385 in self loans), $32,394

Norm “Firecracker” Westwell — None solicited

The next filing is due Jan. 31, 2007 for the period of Oct. 22 to Dec. 31.

Independent Organizations

(These are rounded-off figures)

Committee to Save Central Park (No on Measure T) — $8,000 contributions; $7,000 expenses

Committee to Support Our Seniors (Yes on Measure T) – $19,000 contributions; $23,000 expenses

HB Property Owners for Property Rights

(A group closely affiliated with mobile-home park owners.)

$30,000 contributions; $23,500 expenses

Supported Cathy Green, Gil Coerper and Joe Carchio with mailers costing about $7,000 each.

HB Police Officers’ Assn.

Supported Gil Coerper with more than $13,000 in printing and mailing brochures.

HB Firefighters Assn.

Supported Cathy Green, Jill Hardy and Gil Coerper with mailers costing about $4,000 each.

Freedom From Taxes

Supported Joe Carchio with mailers costing about $12,000 and supported the Measure T committee with about $3,000.

— Compiled by Purnima Mudnal