City hall in park on ballot group gathers cash

Proponents of the “City Hall in the Park” initiative in Newport Beach have a major financial advantage over opponents at this early stage of the potential ballot box battle, according to financial reports filed with the city Tuesday.

Reports showed John Croul, who owns the Cannery Restaurant property, contributed $78,223 to the City Hall in the Park measure spearheaded by architect Bill Ficker. If supporters gather enough signatures by Aug. 29, residents in February will vote on whether city hall should be on a park site next to the central library.

A statement from the Newport Beach City Hall in the Park Committee did not appear to have been filed by Tuesday’s deadline. Croul also was required to file a report as a major donor.

Parks Are Priceless, the formal opposition to the City Hall in the Park measure, reported $1,455 in contributions. Reports covered the first half of 2007.

In Costa Mesa, it’s apparently too early for most to raise money for 2008 council elections — Council members Eric Bever and Linda Dixon, who haven’t said whether they’re running for reelection, didn’t show any money raised this year. Councilwoman Katrina Foley, who has said she’ll run, raised $2,004.

Mayor Allan Mansoor, who won a second four-year term in November, did rake in $19,630 this year, his report showed.

Some of that came from a June fundraiser, but Mansoor was tight-lipped at the time about why he needed the money. He said Tuesday it was simply to repay old campaign debt, and his report indeed showed he paid back a loan to himself for $14,200.

Financial reports from Newport Beach candidates and political committees can be viewed on the city website at https://www.city.newport-beach.ca.us/ClerkNotices/Election2004/CampaignDisclosureStatements.htm. Costa Mesa’s reports are available at the city clerk’s office, 77 Fair Drive.