Alhambra

Mayor Talmage V. Burke, who was reelected to the Alhambra City Council in November, spent $26,677 of his own money on the campaign, according to a financial statement filed with the city clerk.

Burke, who has a policy of refusing campaign contributions, was nevertheless the highest spender in the 3rd Councilmanic District election. He paid more than $10,000 to political consultant George Pla’s Cordoba Corp. for advertising and campaign services. Burke received 8,623 votes. Richard Gonzales, who spent only $764, gained 6,183 votes and Violetta V. Willsey, who spent $2,648, picked up 3,522 votes.

Businessman Allen Co, running in the 4th Councilmanic District, spent even more money than Burke, but finished third in a race won by incumbent J. Parker Williams. Co reported that he received $28,874 in campaign contributions and spent $29,660. He reported donations of $1,000 or more from Xuan Binh Vuong and Chao-Tang International of Monterey Park, Anh Duy Tran of Alhambra, Kim Chuy Tang of Montebello and Far East Thread and Supply, Mei Hing Lung Jewelry Co. and the U.S. Trading Co. of Los Angeles. He received 3,170 votes, which means that his campaign cost him more than $9 per vote.

Williams, who polled 7,304 votes, spent $10,275. His largest campaign donors were three Alhambra car dealers who gave $2,000 each. Alfred L. Encinas, who received 5,379 votes, spent $13,715, with most of his money coming from labor organizations, and Theodore Manghis, who received 2,449 votes, spent $2,699.