Local Elections : 2 Supervisor Candidates Reap Builders’ Donations

Fueled by nearly $12,000 in contributions from people whose livings are tied to the development industry, Oceanside City Councilman John MacDonald has raised more money than lawyer Clyde Romney since the pair finished one-two in the June primary race for a seat on the county Board of Supervisors.

The two candidates, who have throughout the campaign decried the rapid development of North County and called for stricter controls on growth, together received just under one-fourth of their identified contributions from development and related industries, reports filed Monday show.

MacDonald received a total of $48,273 from all sources between July 1 and Sept. 30, the most recent period for which candidates must report their contributions. Romney received $42,230 during the same period.

After expenses, MacDonald has about $10,740 in the bank going into the campaign’s final month. Romney has $7,061.

The two candidates have pledged to spend no more than $132,000 each on their campaigns, a figure that represents about $1 for every household in the 5th District, which stretches from Encinitas to Orange County on the coast and inland past Escondido to the Imperial County line.

Of MacDonald’s contributions, $43,100 came in amounts of $100 or more and thus the contributors were required to be identified by name and by occupation and employer of the contributor.

Of that amount, $11,995, or 27.8%, came from people who make their living off the housing business--including developers, contractors, engineers, planners and real estate agents. MacDonald got several thousand more from lawyers and bankers whose businesses are at least partly tied to development.

MacDonald got an additional $3,750 from people involved in the sanitation business. That figure included $1,250 from businessmen and lawyers associated with the proposed construction of a trash-burning power plant in San Marcos, which MacDonald has said he opposes.

The remainder of MacDonald’s contributions came from businessmen and businesswomen, retirees, professionals, housewives and farmers, in that order.

Romney was required to itemize only $21,797, or a little more than half of his contributions for the period, in part because he brought in $17,000 in $99 contributions at a single fund-raising event.

Of Romney’s itemized contributions, $5,349, or just under 25%, came from retirees. Romney got $3,600, or about 16.5%, from people in development-related businesses.

The rest of Romney’s money came from businessmen, lawyers, professionals, housewives and farmers, in that order.

Romney said the contributions from developers to MacDonald show that such businesses consider MacDonald more likely to favor their interests.

“Dr. MacDonald is making much of his record in the City of Oceanside, and Oceanside has not been unfriendly to developers over the past several years,” Romney said.

Romney also seemed to take delight in hearing that MacDonald had received several contributions from backers of the controversial San Marcos trash plant, which both candidates have opposed. Supervisor Paul Eckert, who lost his bid for a third term when he finished behind MacDonald and Romney in the primary election, was a strong supporter of the trash plant.

“I can guarantee you I haven’t received one dollar from any of the interests related to development of the trash plant,” Romney said. “It’s obvious they have anointed (MacDonald) the heir to Supervisor Eckert that they would like to see elected.”

MacDonald could not be reached for comment Monday.