First-time candidate Patrick Brenden’s campaign funding leads in H.B. council race
As the Huntington Beach City Council race nears its end, one hopeful has surpassed the nine others in campaign fundraising, according to disclosure forms filed by the candidates.
Patrick Brenden, a planning commissioner and first-time council candidate, has raised more than $58,000 since Jan. 1, including a $27,500 loan to himself. He raised $16,323 in the most recent filing period covering Sept. 25 to Oct. 22.
The candidate with the next-highest total is Lyn Semeta, also a planning commissioner, who has raised nearly $38,000, including a $7,650 loan to herself. Her campaign collected $3,964 in the latest filing period.
Recent donors to Brenden’s campaign include car dealerships, developers, real estate agents, waste disposal company Republic Services Inc. and Councilwoman Barbara Delgleize.
Brenden also has the support of the Huntington Beach Firefighters and Police Officers associations, both of which also endorsed incumbent Jill Hardy and candidate Joe Carchio, a former Huntington Beach mayor.
“I think that a lot of people have supported me because they understand that I’m someone who listens, is a great collaborator and a problem solver,” Brenden said Tuesday. “I think it starts with how much community involvement I’ve had for more than 20 years in Huntington Beach.
“We’ve been busy with the campaign. We’ve done more events than anybody, including meet-and-greets. It all comes down to basic hard work and putting in time and effort to reach the goal.”
Semeta also has received donations from car dealerships as well as local politicians such as Costa Mesa Mayor Steve Mensinger and U.S. Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Costa Mesa).
“Discounting loans to campaigns, I am one of the top fundraisers due to overwhelming community support,” Semeta said in an email Tuesday. “Refusing to accept special-interest endorsements has been a cornerstone of my campaign. This means I can truly be a voice for the residents and local businesses in Huntington Beach.”
Though Brenden leads the other candidates in total contributions, Carchio was only slightly behind him in donations in the most recent filing period, when Carchio received $15,175.
Overall, Carchio has raised $23,025.
Carchio’s most recent donors include the Old World German restaurant, TNT Fireworks, Realtors and car dealerships.
“I’ve had relationships and friendships with the people who donated to my campaign,” Carchio said Tuesday. “Bernie at Old World is a great community partner. ... The Realtors do a great job. The people that live here are enjoying great increases in home prices for the future of their portfolios. ... As far as police and fire are concerned, those guys do great jobs in keeping our city safe.”
Hardy, who was elected to the City Council in 2002, 2006 and 2012, has collected $16,750 overall and $6,100 in the most recent filing period.
Donors include Huntington Beach Tomorrow and Old World.
Hardy said she isn’t worried about the amount of money she has raised compared with other candidates because she raised similar amounts in previous campaigns.
She said much of her money for this election came from overflow from her 2012 campaign, in which she raised $22,384 total.
“I actually have had about a fourth of the money of my opponents in every one of my victorious campaigns,” Hardy said Wednesday. “I met the budget I had hoped for to get a mailer out and get my signs out. I had the money for the campaign I hoped to have.”
Also in the race are financial advisor Ron Sterud, who has raised $14,545 total and $9,210 in the most recent filing period; businessman Mark Rolfes, who has raised $9,527 total and $2,750 in the latest filing period; Planning Commissioner Ed Pinchiff, who has raised $8,573 total and $4,140 in the latest period; student Amory Hanson; registered nurse Karen Leighton and certified public accountant Mariann Ettorre.
Hanson, Leighton and Ettorre did not open campaign committees, city records show.
Twitter: @BrittanyWoolsey
