Laguna Group Spent Heavily on Bond Issue

In what has been called one of the costliest campaigns ever in Laguna Beach, the Committee to Save the Canyon spent $112,121 to win voter approval last November of a $20-million bond issue that will go toward the purchase of pristine Laguna Canyon land.

The pro-bond committee outspent the only organized opposition by a margin of 28 to 1, according to campaign finance statements filed this week with the city clerk that detailed contributions and expenditures through the end of last year.

The Laguna Beach Taxpayers’ Committee Against Proposition H reported receiving and spending $3,984.

Voters approved the bond issue by an almost 80% margin.

The city of Laguna Beach has until 1995 to come up with $78 million to buy 2,150 acres of canyon land owned by the Irvine Co. Environmentalists have been fighting for acquisition of the land to block the company’s proposed 3,200-home development in the area.

The Committee to Save the Canyon reported receiving $134,259 in contributions, including $25,851 in non-monetary donations and a $15,000 loan from the Irvine Co. The developer was the single largest donor in the campaign, contributing $29,300 in addition to the loan.

Campaign officials said recently that they are still attempting to erase a $15,000 campaign debt.

In City Council races, Robert F. Gentry’s reelection campaign was the costliest, with reported expenditures totaling $21,866. Of that amount, $13,865 was in non-monetary expenditures.

Gentry was the highest vote-getter in a race that also elected Lida Lenney and Ann Christoph.