Most L. B. Candidates Spend Bottom Dollars

Most City Council candidates are going into Tuesday’s elections with little or no money left in their campaign coffers, according to the latest campaign finance reports.

The two incumbents facing opponents are the exception. Councilman Wallace Edgerton, who represents District 2, reported having $45,388 on hand, according to his March 31 statement. Councilman Tom Clark, who represents District 4, reported $34,505 left in his campaign account.

Edgerton said he spent $9,063 in his race against an opponent he calls “a non-candidate.”

Most of Edgerton’s contributions were made before nominations closed, when he did not know who would be running against him, he said. Since January, Edgerton has accepted $3,900 in contributions. His largest donations came from the Long Beach Firefighters Assn. and the Long Beach Police Officers Assn., which each gave $1,000. Edgerton’s challenger, Dan Rosenberg, said he plans to spend less than $1,000 on his campaign.

Clark, who has served on the council for 22 years, reported spending $27,470 in his reelection bid. Between Feb. 28 and March 26--the period covered by the latest financial disclosure report--he received $1,224 in contributions and spent $11,233. Most of his contributions came from a $125-a-plate fund-raising dinner in November, Clark said.

Clark’s five opponents trail far behind in finances. Jack Bowen reported having $3,914 on hand after spending $815. Charles Vestal reported spending $5,950, leaving him with $652 on hand. Cliff Armstrong reported spending $750, leaving him with $485 in his treasury. Candidates Stanley Greer and Joseph H. Farrell said they plan to receive and spend less than $1,000 on their campaigns.

In District 8, where seven candidates are vying for the seat Councilman Edd Tuttle will vacate, Jeff Kellogg and Pat Schauer reported raising similar amounts of money last month. But Kellogg outspent Schauer 5 to 1 during the latest one-month reporting period, spending $15,662 to Schauer’s $3,132.

So far in the entire campaign, Kellogg, an oil drilling company executive, has spent a total of $26,058; Schauer, owner of a marketing management company and a city planning commissioner, has spent $14,637. By March 26, Kellogg had $8,257 in his treasury and Schauer had $6,625.

All Gifts Less Than $250

None of Kellogg’s contributions was higher than $250 during the reporting month, with most in the $100 to $250 range. Contributions came from a variety of sources, including auto dealers, business executives, construction companies, real estate agents, housewives and political action committees. He reported accruing $7,685 last month.

Schauer raised $7,168 in the last month with five $500 contributions--from an auto repair school under construction, a consultant, an insurance executive, a developer and Friends for Quality Neighborhoods. Her largest contribution was $2,500 from Sally Cannon Boren, who Schauer said is a friend.

District 8 candidate Michael W. Fisher had $93.27 in his treasury and Joaquin M. (Kin) Borja was $1,032 in debt, according to the March 31 statements. The other candidates for District 8 said they do not intend to spend more than $1,000. They are Glenn W. Crout, Hursel C. Johnson and Randall J. Morris.

In District 6, Councilman Clarence Smith is in the comfortable position of being able to give money away. Smith is running unopposed in Tuesday’s election. Between Feb. 28 and March 26, he said he received $1,030 in contributions, including a $1,000 donation from the Long Beach Firefighters political action committee. He spent $2,323 on printing materials and donations of his own, including $100 to Long Beach Unified School District board candidate Jenny Oropeza, $200 to school board candidate Doris Topsy-Elvord and $250 to school board candidate Bobbie Smith.